Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is liaising with 3 Broadband to ensure that the areas tendered to that company as part of the national broadband scheme are being rolled out; if a timetable has been agreed by his Department with the tender company; if the following areas in south Tipperary have been commenced (details supplied); when each will be completed, according to his Department's agreements. [30812/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Under the terms of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract, 3 Ireland is obliged to have provided coverage in all 1,028 electoral Divisions (EDs) included in the NBS, by October next.

The original date for this was September but, following a request by 3, under the Force Majeure provisions of the NBS contract, I have granted a 4 week extension to the contract due to the time lost in the network roll-out during the severe winter weather experienced in December and January last.

The table provides full details of network roll out to-date in County Tipperary. The timing of enablement of individual EDs is an operational matter for 3. This is linked closely with decisions relating to planning applications and it is therefore not possible to be absolutely certain when a particular area will be enabled.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will follow the example set by Finland and make broadband access a legal right for every citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30892/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Currently, there is no EU-wide universal service obligation for broadband, apart from a guarantee of "functional broadband connectivity" which equates to a dial-up service. The EU Commission has recently embarked on a public consultation process aimed at looking at whether this should be extended to include universal access to broadband.

In Ireland we aim to achieve full access to broadband through a combination of market forces and targeted Government intervention.

The provision of broadband services here is in the first instance a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. In cases of market failure the Government will intervene, where it is appropriate and possible to do so.

The Group Broadband Scheme, National Broadband Scheme and the planned Rural Broadband Scheme are examples of where Government has intervened to ensure broadband availability in areas, particularly rural ones, where commercial investors have failed to provide services.

Once the NBS has been fully rolled out in October next all parts of Ireland will have broadband availability. This is some three years ahead of the target date set by the EU Commission in its "Digital Agenda". A planned Rural Broadband Scheme to be rolled out next year will aim to cover any remaining rural, non-NBS premises that cannot currently avail of a broadband service.

I will also consider the enactment of legislation that would provide for broadband as a right for all citizens of Ireland.