Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1497: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to amend the planning regulation to require that all new homes and buildings are equipped with a fibre-optic connections to the nearest cabinet for telecommunications purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33117/10]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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My Department is participating on a working group with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Commission for Energy Regulation to consider the recommendations in the report, Next Generation Broadband — Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland, which was published in June 2009. One of the recommendations in the document is that new premises in Ireland will be required to install open-access fibre connections, where practicable.

The Working Group is considering a number of issues, including specific technical issues involved and the most appropriate mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of any requirements, and expects to conclude its work shortly.