Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of mobile telephone coverage in an area (details supplied); the impact this has on the local community; the steps he will take to compel private mobile telephone operators to significantly improve mobile telephone coverage in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2665/12]

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 the licences. I am informed by ComReg that all of the operators have met their licence requirements in this regard and, indeed, that performance tends to exceed the minimum coverage requirements. However, it should be noted that as mobile telephony services are a radio based technology they are affected by several factors. For example, the local topography, including the surroundings, trees, terrain, buildings, etc. impacts on the quality of service. Additionally, the capacity of the network is impacted by the amount of subscribers using a particular base station at any given time. It is also the case that, from time to time, some residents from localities successfully oppose the construction of base stations in their areas which, of course, impacts on the ability of network operators to provide services in such areas.

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the progress of the rural broadband scheme; and if he will address the issue of cherrypicking in relation to broadband provision in rural areas. [2719/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Application Phase of the Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) closed on 29 July 2011. The Department received 5,000 applications and it is expected that up to 4,000 of these will qualify under the terms of the scheme.

The Verification Phase of the Scheme has now commenced. In this phase of the Scheme, the details of applicants are being passed to Internet service providers to assess whether a service can be offered to them without intervention from the State. A total of 35 companies are participating in this phase of the Scheme. It is possible that a significant number of applicants could be served by these companies and a service will be procured for the remainder who cannot be served. It is hoped to have this service rolled out by the end of 2012.

The Department will be writing to all applicants in February to let them know the position in relation to their application.

With regard to the provision of broadband services generally, the electronic communications market in Ireland has been fully liberalised since 1999. Despite steady growth and development of well-regulated competition in the provision products and services since then, companies will only invest where there is a clear commercial case for doing so. Where it is necessary and appropriate the Government makes careful interventions aimed at addressing market failure, such as the National Broadband Scheme and the RBS.

The combination of private investment and State interventions such as the National and Rural Broadband Schemes means that Ireland is on target to meet the EU Digital Agenda milestone of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.