Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the nature of any talks between his Department and Eircom in relation to investment in a fibre network; if he will outline ComReg's role in these talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23034/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date in setting up a task force to ensure that the broadband demands of the smart economy will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23038/10]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to support the rollout of fibre in urban areas to the home in order to promote next generation broadband speeds. [23120/10]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he has taken to ensure next generation broadband service is advanced here; the timelines involved for such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23039/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 39, 49 and 63 together.

The telecommunications market, including the provision of fibre based next generation networks, is fully liberalised and subject to both EU and national competition and regulatory rules.

Government policy on the development of the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles, which are crucial to the development of the market including - (i) competition, at platform and service levels, which drives innovation and investment, (ii) investment certainty for service providers considering investing in network infrastructure, (iii) investment intervention by Government to bridge any digital divide in cases of market failure and to meet the State's own communication needs, and (iv) appropriate regulation.

This policy has facilitated significant progress in broadband roll out and broadband speeds over recent years. For example, Ireland has over 1.443 million broadband subscribers and our broadband per-capita penetration rate is 32.4%. Internationally, Ireland ranks 11th of the EU 27 for per-capita broadband penetration (composite fixed and mobile), 4th for mobile only penetration, and 14th for fixed broadband penetration.

Of the homes with broadband connections, 68.4% of them, and 72.8% of SMEs are using broadband speeds of 2mbps – 10mbps.

I welcome all plans by service providers across different platforms to invest in high-speed broadband and will ensure that the State continues to provide a supportive environment for such investment. The policy environment is facilitating progress. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) will ensure that broadband services are available throughout Ireland by the end of this year.

Even after the full roll-out of the NBS there will be a small percentage of premises outside the areas covered by the scheme that will have persistent difficulty in obtaining a broadband service. This is primarily due to technical and locational reasons (suitability of telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.).

Funding for rural broadband has become available from the European Economic Recovery Plan through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This Department is responsible for developing a new measure under the Rural Development Plan to use this funding to address the issue of basic broadband availability in remaining un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas.

State Aid approval has been granted by the European Commission as part of the overall process of securing the necessary approvals and funding for the scheme. Detailed planning is now underway for this scheme. The key qualifying criteria for the scheme will be that the premises in question is in a rural area, outside the areas covered by the NBS and cannot be served by existing service providers.

It is intended to commence the scheme later this year with the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband. It is expected that the roll-out phase of the scheme will be carried out during 2011 and 2012.

In addition to these actions, Building Ireland's Smart Economy identifies Ireland's educated population, with 85% of 20-24 year olds having completed post-primary education, as one of the strengths of the Irish economy and commits to "the pursuit of the objective of equipping second level schools with 100mbps broadband connectivity."

78 schools have been chosen to take part in a pilot project, sponsored by my own Department and the Department of Education and Skills, and all will have their enhanced bandwidth available to them for the beginning of the next academic year in September next. This innovative project presents a very real opportunity to demonstrate the benefits and positive impacts of high speed bandwidth and appropriate ICT equipment on the teaching and learning environment within these schools.

The revised Programme for Government includes a commitment to rolling this out nationally to all second level school. The June 2009 policy paper also proposes the establishment of a Next Generation Broadband Taskforce comprising industry, Government and ComReg, aimed at ensuring that the development of broadband in Ireland will meet the demands of Ireland's Smart Economy. My Department liaises with industry participants and with ComReg on an ongoing basis and these discussions encompass all matters relating to broadband infrastructure development. I have made it clear on a number of occasions that I favour a collaborative approach to broadband investment.

I intend establishing the broadband Taskforce in the near future to progress the collaborative approach that was established in our initial broadband policy forum in Dublin Castle.

As part of the ongoing bilateral engagement with industry players on broadband development, my Department has had discussions with eircom. I recognise the importance of eircom as the incumbent telecommunications provider and I welcome their stated intention to invest in new next generation networks and the recent approach of the company in support of its wholesale operations with other telecommunications providers.