Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to address contention on the broadband infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15715/11]

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). Investment in broadband infrastructure and associated upgrades in marketed services is primarily a matter for the private sector, facilitated, where appropriate and possible by Government.

Under the NewERA proposals in the Programme for Government, which is the responsibility of my colleague Minister of State O'Dowd, 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 and with industry who are continuing to invest considerably in this area.

On 13th June, I convened a meeting of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT), which I chair. The Task Force comprises the CEOs of all of the major telecommunications companies currently operating in the Irish market and CEOs of some Internet Service Provider companies. Its purpose is to discuss how best to deliver the optimal policy environment and to identify a roadmap for the speedy delivery of high speed broadband across Ireland. The Taskforce will consider issues such as appropriate targets, investment plans, and the role of Government policy and actions in driving and facilitating investment.

I expect that the NGBT, which will conclude its deliberations by December this year, will be helpful in terms of identifying the optimal policy position to deliver wider customer access to high-speed broadband.

It is a fact that some broadband services are constrained by contention. I expect that the output from the NGBT, as well as newer technologies that are emerging, will address contention and other bandwidth quality issues. Additionally, the Programme for Government commits to ensuring that broadband providers publish average speeds for each package and ComReg is actively engaging with industry to develop a mechanism that allows for more transparent reporting of actual speeds experienced by those using the broadband services.