Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent, if any, to which he proposes to encourage or facilitate the upgrading of the telecommunications sector here to the best European and international standards; the extent, if any, to which the efficacy and efficiency of broadband, fixed line, wire, wireless and satellite available here is comparable to that in each EU member state; the reason for the difference; the effect if known of such deficiency on economic performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37664/10]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to his announcement at a recent conference that he is to establish a next generation network taskforce, the way in which this is distinct from the broadband task force announced in July 2009 next generation report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37784/10]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the specific measures he has taken to ensure next generation broadband is advanced here; the timelines involved for such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37797/10]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 90: 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 optic network; if he will outline the role of ComReg in these talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37792/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made regarding setting up a task force to ensure the smart economies broadband demands are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37796/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 74, 77, 90 and 100 together.

Government policy on the development of the electronic communications market, including next generation broadband services, 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 – - competition, at platform and service levels, which drives innovation and investment; - investment certainty for service providers considering investing in network infrastructure; - investment intervention by Government to bridge any digital divide in cases of market failure and to meet the State's own communication needs, and

- appropriate regulation.

This policy has facilitated significant progress in rolling out broadband services, including increased speeds, over recent years. For example, at the end of June 2010 Ireland had in the region of 1.48 million broadband subscriptions. The year-on-year growth in subscriptions over the preceding 12 month period was over 16.5%. Internationally, Ireland ranks 11th of the EU 27 for per-capita broadband penetration of both fixed and mobile, 4th for mobile only penetration, and 14th for fixed broadband penetration.

Of the homes with broadband connections, 77.8% of them and 85.8% of SMEs are using broadband speeds between 2mbps and 10mbps. UPC is providing speeds up to 30 Mbs and is rolling out speeds up to 100 Mbs. Eircom and the Vodafone/BT alliance are both rolling out speeds of up to 24 Mbs using vDSL technology. In the wireless market, Imagine have launched WiMAX, a broadband product with speeds of up to 8mbps available. In addition eircom has recently launched an Ethernet product offering speeds up to and exceeding 1Gbs to wholesale customers and to large broadband users.

The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a broadband service supported by my Department. The NBS has resulted in broadband services being available throughout Ireland. The EU Commission recently introduced a target to have universal broadband access available across the EU by 2013. The NBS has gone most of the way towards Ireland meeting this target and providing services in areas unserved by the liberalised market.

Even after the full roll-out of the NBS there will be a small number of isolated premises that will have persistent difficulty in obtaining a broadband service. This is primarily due to technical and locational reasons (e.g. suitability of telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight for wireless services).

The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. Using this funding, which will be augmented by an Exchequer contribution, I intend to launch a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of this year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the National Broadband Scheme areas.

The report "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 were chosen to take part in a pilot project, sponsored by my own Department and the Department of Education and Skills. All 78 have received their enhanced bandwidth and have migrated on to the HEAnet network. 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. I am committed to rolling out this project to all second level schools by 2012.

The improvements in broadband services over recent years have been achieved by a combination of competitive pressures in the open market and proportionate State intervention to bridge any digital divide in instances of market failure. My Department continues to liaise with industry participants and with ComReg on an ongoing basis in discussions which encompass all matters relating to current and future broadband infrastructure development to ensure universal progress. These ongoing bilateral engagements with industry players on broadband development, include discussions with eircom as the incumbent telecommunications provider.

The June 2009 policy paper also proposed the establishment of a Next Generation Broadband Taskforce comprising industry, Government and ComReg, aimed at ensuring that the development of Next Generation Networks in Ireland will meet the demands of Ireland's Smart Economy. I was awaiting various developments prior to establishing the Task force including:

i) greater clarity from the EU Commission on the regulation of next generation access;

ii) revised guidelines from the EU Commission on State Aid for broadband;

iii) an outline Radio Spectrum Policy Programme from the EU Commission; and

iv) completion of the roll-out of the NBS.

All of these developments have come to pass and I signalled earlier this month that I now propose to establish the Taskforce. The first meeting of the Taskforce will be held shortly.