Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that ongoing investment in infrastructure in the telecommunications sector is adequate to meet requirements in the future having particular regard to the experience of the past 15 years and the need to ensure that the service providers are aware of the necessity to bring the standard and quality of services here into line with the best available worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13123/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied regarding the quality and availability of broadband available throughout the country; if any assessment has been done into the future extent of requirements in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 148 together.

There has been significant growth in the take up of broadband services and contracted speeds in Ireland in recent years. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has reported that between Q3 2007 and Q3 2011 the number of broadband subscribers has more than doubled from 793,000 to more than 1.6 million.

It is also the case that, at the end of September 2011, 73.2% of domestic customers and 88.8% of business subscribers were contracted for services using speeds between 2Mbps – 10Mbps compared to 52.5% and 30.3% respectively at end 2007, when ComReg commenced reporting in the current format. Many subscribers are also migrating to higher speed products with 19.8% of residential subscribers using speeds in excess of 10Mbps, according to ComReg's latest Quarterly Report (Q3 2011), compared to 0.2% at end 2007.

International comparisons of broadband services are complex to measure and interpret. In many instances, surveys measure an average of retail broadband speeds published on service providers' websites only. These comparisons do not take account of higher speeds which are available in some countries (including Ireland) over leased lines to users of very high speeds and bandwidth. The international comparisons only consider retail services that are advertised. Big bandwidth leased line services are not advertised as retail services in Ireland.

It is also the case that the comparisons are not weighted to take account of the number and variety of speeds options advertised. Furthermore, broadband services that are advertised as part of a bundled package may not be included in such comparisons. Some commonly used high speed broadband services, available in Ireland, such as triple play products, may not be included in some international comparisons.

The Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key requirement in delivering future economic and social development. The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce which I convened last summer has an important role to play in this regard. It comprises the CEOs of all of the major telecommunications companies operating in the Irish market, as well as CEOs of some other companies that provide broadband services. The purpose of the Taskforce is to discuss and report on policy issues and proposals in relation to the provision of high speed broadband across Ireland. I expect that the Taskforce will help to identify how best to deliver wider customer access to high-speed broadband generally and thereby assist in delivering on the commitment in the Programme for Government.

The Taskforce will conclude its deliberations shortly. It is my intention to consider the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Taskforce and to move quickly thereafter to put in place the optimal policy environment for the delivery of high speed broadband.