Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that low-cost Department numbers are charged as a high-cost call on mobile phones; if he will ensure that a landline number is available for all Departments and services so that persons who have a mobile phone only are not charged high rates when they phone low cost numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47820/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department uses both lo-call number and local number for members of the public.

The use of a lo-call number affords considerable savings to people who do not have access to free national call services. In accordance with best practice there is an accompanying note on the website and in press notices or other literature advising that the rates charged for the use of the 1890 number may vary between service providers.

Those who have an entitlement to free national calls can of course ring the main Department number for free.

The issue as it relates to other Government Departments is a matter for those Departments to address and is not one in which I have a role.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the report into broadband carried out by an institute (details supplied) which performed an analysis at the request of the United States Federal Communications Commission; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this study found that Ireland ranked 24th out of 30 for speed, and 21st of 30 for price, and overall Ireland was ranked 26th out of 30; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47823/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The report referred to by the Deputy uses OECD data from 2008 to measure broadband prices and performance in Ireland. The competitive broadband market in Ireland is delivering improved services and keener pricing which are not represented in 2008 data. A cable service provider is now providing broadband speeds up to 30 megabits per second (mbs) and rolling out speeds up to 100 mbs, other service providers launched speeds up to 24 mbs in January 2010 and have introduced wholesale broadband products for residential and commercial markets offering speeds up to 8 mbs uncontested and 1000 mbs respectively, at keener prices than previously prevailed.

The latest OECD data ranks Ireland 11th of 29 countries for monthly broadband subscription prices across all platforms and ranges. A more recent report on broadband services in 72 countries by the University of Oxford and the University of Oviedo, Spain, concluded 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, ranks Ireland 13th of the 72 countries studied.