Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the extent of the digital divide here; the steps he is taking to combat same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44992/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department, and others, have been working, and continue to work, on addressing the digital divide with a range of measures to promote digital engagement. This engagement is being encouraged and facilitated by improving access opportunities.

Having access to broadband connectivity is a fundamental starting point. Where the market has failed to provide a service (primarily due to the lack of commercial returns for such investment) the Government has intervened, thereby ensuring broadband access to those who wish to avail of it. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which has provided a basic broadband service to 1,028 electoral divisions in rural Ireland, is one such example. 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. I am aware that there continues to be isolated cases of premises throughout the country that are not capable of receiving the broadband services available. Next month, therefore, I intend to launch a Rural Broadband Scheme, jointly funded by the European Economic Recovery and the Exchequer that will provide broadband to the small number of rural premises that were not included in the National Broadband Scheme.

As part of the Government's strategy to make technology an integral part of the learning process, significant funding is also being given to post-primary schools, for high-tech equipment to improve the ICT infrastructure available in schools. A pilot scheme to provide 100Mbps broadband access and associated services to 78 post-primary schools has also been rolled out. I intend to bring proposals to Government next month to launch the national roll out of this scheme to all second-level schools by 2012.

The issue of digital skills is another key element of reducing the digital divide and is being addressed in several ways. Training opportunities are available from a variety of sources - including opportunities in libraries and in night classes throughout the country, and from a range of private sector training providers.

The Digital Hub - an Agency under my Department - is also helping to address the digital divide in an enterprise context. Through the "WebActivate" programme currently being piloted at the Hub, young people on the live register are being provided with training and support to become self employed as service providers. They then go on to work with small Irish businesses to help those small companies to establish themselves on the internet. This programme, tackling the digital divide for individuals as well as businesses, is one I intend to expand in 2011.

In addition, there is the "Log on, Learn" initiative - a collaborative programme between Intel, Microsoft, An Post and the Department of Education & Skills. The programme is designed to match participating transition-year students with older people on a one-to-one basis, to share skills and knowledge with each other. I understand that over 3,000 people have been trained on this programme. I understand too, that BT is developing an initiative to be deployed in a number of community settings. My Department has also been intervening to bring about increased digital engagement by working with community & voluntary and not-for-profit organisations across the country through the BenefIT e-Inclusion grant schemes. Under the BenefIT schemes, between 2008 and 2009, 89 grants were awarded to a range of local, regional and national organisations to provide digital skills training. To date, over 28,000 people have benefited directly from training under these schemes.

I am confident that the range of initiatives introduced and in progress will significantly reduce the digital divide and develop Ireland's Smart economy.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the specific measures he has taken to combat inaccurate advertising of broadband speeds by telecommunications companies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44998/10]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the commencement of an independent study of broadband speeds available to customers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44994/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 51 together.

The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding the quality of broadband services provided to customers, is the responsibility of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In March 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, guided by ComReg and the National Consumer Agency, issued an Advice Note to Broadband Providers, which has had a positive impact in aligning speeds advertised with speeds experienced. My Department has no statutory function in regulating advertising standards.

My Department, in collaboration with ComReg, has been considering how best to generate additional statistical analysis of broadband speeds experienced by end users over the competing platforms in Ireland. In the course of developing the various measurement and related requirements a number of technical issues arose and these issues are currently under consideration by ComReg. I have sought resolution of the issues as soon as possible, with a view to introducing an appropriate initiative.

While I look forward to gathering additional statistical information to inform the policy making process, it should be noted that surveys undertaken by ComReg during 2010 indicate high levels of satisfaction with residential and broadband speeds. Additionally, less than 2.4% of consumer complaints to ComReg in the year to July 2010 related to broadband speeds.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he plans to expedite private sector investment plans in next generation broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44866/10]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to provide high speed broadband services in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44789/10]

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

Government policy pertaining to 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. The policy paper sets out the Government's position that investment in broadband infrastructure is primarily a matter for the private sector, facilitated, where appropriate and possible, by Government. I understand that the industry has invested around €600m per annum over recent years. ComReg, which is the independent market regulator continues to review the level of investment being made by various operators and has a clear role in providing a suitable investment environment especially for next generation networks.

The policy has facilitated significant progress in rolling out broadband services, over recent years. This progress, measured in international comparisons, is demonstrated in a recent study of broadband services in 72 countries by the University of Oxford and the University of Oviedo, Spain. This study concludes that the broadband services currently available in Ireland are capable of meeting the requirements of today's broadband applications and overall, in terms of broadband quality and penetration, Ireland ranks 13th of the 72 countries studied.

More generally, 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 of up to 30mbps and is rolling out speeds of up to 100mbps. Eircom and the Vodafone/BT alliance are both rolling out speeds of up to 24 Mbps 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 of up to and exceeding 1Gbps to wholesale customers and to high-bandwidth users. Since the completion of the roll out of the National Broadband Scheme last month, there is at least one service provider offering a broadband service in any area across every part of Ireland.

While I am confident that the level of investment activity in the market will continue, I am keen to facilitate collaborative approaches to investment that would maximise impact without compromising competitive market principles particularly in investments in next generation services. To that end, the Next Generation Broadband (NGB) Taskforce, which I signalled in my June 2009 policy paper, will be established and meet in the coming weeks. The NGB Taskforce will focus on how possible collaborative approaches to investment coupled with the existing policy environment and regulatory regime, could give rise to higher quality broadband.