Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he will take to improve broadband in rural areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25392/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The telecommunications market in Ireland has been fully liberalised since 1999 and, since then, has seen the steady growth and development of well-regulated competition in the provision of the full range of telecommunications products and services. The Government is not a player in this market and can only intervene in cases of market failure. The most significant intervention in this regard in the context of the Deputy's Question is the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) which has delivered broadband services to some 1,028 electoral districts countrywide.

Between the significant private and public sector investments over recent years all areas of the country now have access to at least a basic broadband service. In addition to the NBS the Rural Broadband Scheme, which recently closed for applications, aims to identify the remaining individual premises in rural Ireland, outside of the NBS areas that are unable to obtain a broadband service and to provide a basic broadband service to those premises, where requested.

The Verification Phase of the Scheme will commence very shortly. Under this phase efforts will be made to obtain a service for those who have applied under the Scheme from commercial Internet Service Providers under existing market terms. This part of the process should be carried out over the period October – January 2012. If internet service providers confirm that a particular applicant cannot be served at present, the Rural Broadband Scheme will seek to offer a service through whichever company is successful in bidding for the RBS procurement contract.

The procurement process is expected to commence toward the end of October and will aim to identify the preferred supplier. Pending contract negotiations a service provider will be appointed in early 2012. Rollout of the service under the Scheme is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Eircom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25393/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The electronic communications market is, and has been since its liberalisation, a commercial competitive market. Thus, the provision of electronic communications services is a matter for those privately owned commercial sector service providers, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). While I would welcome continuous investment by all of the infrastructure owners in their networks, neither I nor ComReg has any role or function in their investment decisions. The Deputy may be aware that the company referred to in the question recently announced a commitment to a significant investment in upgrading their broadband network. Notwithstanding the above we will refer your concerns to eircom for direct attention.