Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the requirement in terms of investment in communications technology such as broadband is sufficient to meet current and future requirements; if a particular strategy is required in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16144/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband, is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

Government may intervene in the fully liberalised telecommunications market only in areas where the competitive market fails to provide service. Targeted interventions, such as the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), were introduced by my Department to deliver broadband services in areas not otherwise served due to reluctance on the part of commercial operators to invest because of inadequate financial returns. The NBS network provides a widely accessible broadband service in all of the 1028 Electoral Divisions that were identified as needing intervention. The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS), which I announced recently, aims to provide a broadband service to a relatively small number of remaining individual unserved rural premises. Completion of the RBS will provide widespread access to broadband services across the country.

The NewERA proposals in the Programme for Government aim 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. Specifically the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT), which I chair, is now considering how best to roll out Next Generation Broadband network access. The NGBT, which includes representatives of large network owners and smaller telecommunications services providers, held its first meeting on 13 June 2011. I expect that the NGBT, which will conclude its deliberations by the end of the year, will be helpful in terms of identifying the optimal policy position to deliver wider customer access to high-speed broadband.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the quality and extent on mobile telephone coverage in this country is not comparable with that available in other EU member states; if a particular strategy needs to be developed to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16145/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The provision of mobile phone networks and services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers who operate in a fully liberalised market.

The regulation of telecommunications service providers, including regulatory issues surrounding mobile phone network coverage and quality is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in accordance with its functions under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended, and the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications.

ComReg is responsible for issuing licences to mobile phone operators and for monitoring compliance with the conditions attached to such licences. I am informed by ComReg that all of the operators have met their licence requirements in this regard.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline any issues likely to present as obstacles to the development of modern high speed broadband provision in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16146/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband, is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

The NewERA proposals in the Programme for Government aim 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 (NGB) to every home and business in the State. Specifically, the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT), which I chair, is now considering how best to roll out Next Generation Broadband network access. The NGBT, which includes representatives of large network owners and smaller telecommunications services providers, held its first meeting on 13 June 2011. The identification of obstacles or barriers to the widespread deployment of NGB access is among the work programmes to be pursued. I expect that the NGBT, which will conclude its deliberations by the end of the year, will be helpful in terms of identifying the optimal policy position to deliver wider customer access to high-speed broadband.