John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to launch a rural broadband scheme as part of the European economic recovery package and if so when such a launch will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45029/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects broadband to become 100% available in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45329/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which high speed broadband cover is now satisfactorily and reliably available throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45331/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246, 250 and 252 together.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). 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. ComReg's website www.callcosts.ie provides detailed information on the various private sector telecommunications products and services available on a county by county basis.

In cases of market failure the Government will intervene, where it is appropriate and possible to do so. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) represents such an intervention. The provision of broadband services under the NBS has advanced incrementally and services are now available throughout the entire NBS area with a current minimum download speed of 1.6Mbps. Under the NBS contract, this minimum download speed will be increased to 2.3mbps in 2012.

Since the completion of the roll out of the NBS network last month, every part of Ireland now has a broadband service available from at least one service provider. Additionally, satellite broadband services are available throughout Ireland. However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be isolated cases of premises throughout the country that are not be capable of receiving the broadband services available. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (e.g., suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, or no 'line of sight' from the premises to the wireless base station).

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, subject to Government approval, to launch a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of the year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) areas. There will be a competitive process to engage a service provider who will offer a broadband service to qualified applicants under the scheme. While the exact details have yet to be finalised, I expect that the service offered under this scheme would at least match the service offered under the NBS and that the scheme will be fully rolled out by the end of 2012.