Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of the population that has access to broadband, the locations across the State that cannot currently access broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12659/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Ireland's telecommunications market has been open to competition since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Despite the current economic difficulties, significant private sector investment continues to be made in the provision of broadband products and services.

The State is not a provider of services, except in instances of clear market failure such as in the cases of both the National and Rural Broadband Schemes. Such interventions are always subject to EU State Aid clearance to ensure no unacceptable level of market distortion takes place. Between these private and public investments, at least a basic broadband service is now available right throughout the country. Details of broadband services available on a county-by-county basis can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie.

However, given the nature of some rural development, particularly in relation to one-off-housing, a relatively small number of rural premises do continue to experience difficulties in accessing reliable and affordable broadband services. The Rural Broadband Scheme should assist in addressing this problem. The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland will meet the EU Commission's "Digital Agenda for Europe" target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.