Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the provision of broadband to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14947/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by a number of private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite.

The area of Kiltegan is in the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) coverage area. Broadband is now available in all NBS areas, including Kiltegan, County Wicklow. 3, the NBS service provider, is obliged to provide broadband to anyone in a NBS area who requires a service. 3 can be contacted on freephone 1913 or www.three.ie.

Under the NewERA proposals in the Programme for Government to deliver higher broadband speeds, there is a commitment to co-invest with the private sector and commercial Semi-State sector to provide Next Generation Broadband to every home and business in the State. Consideration of how best to advance these proposals is being advanced by my Department with other stakeholders across Government.

Additionally, in order to accelerate the development of high speed broadband, my officials have been engaging with industry. The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT), which I chair, will consider how best to roll out Next Generation Broadband. The NGBT, which includes representatives of large network owners and smaller telecommunications services providers, will meet shortly to discuss policy and related matters. I expect that the NGBT will be helpful in terms of identifying the optimal policy position to deliver wider customer access to high-speed broadband.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the consultation process for transposing the 2003 EU regulatory framework of the telecommunications market involves an analysis of the health impacts of telecommunications equipment and devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14974/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The revised EU regulatory framework for telecommunications does not contain any provisions relating to the health impacts of telecommunications equipment and devices. The framework is primarily concerned, among other things, with providing strong independent regulation of the telecommunications market, promoting competition, encouraging investment in new and existing infrastructure and protecting and strengthening the interests of the consumer. Accordingly, no analysis of such impacts was carried out during the consultation process.

Issues relating to the potential health effects of from non-ionising radiation and electro-magnetic fields are a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.