Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of additional resources that will be made available to fund the recommendations of the next generation broadband taskforce when it reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35798/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to co-invest with the private sector and commercial Semi State sector to provide Next Generation Broadband customer access and associated fast speeds to every home and business in the State.

The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) report, which I launched on the second of May last, will have an important role to play in this regard.

The report proposes 51 measures which could enable broadband infrastructure providers to accelerate and maximise commercial investment in new next generation broadband infrastructure. The report also seeks to assist Government to identify regional gaps which may arise where the business case is insufficient to justify commercial investment.

In launching the NGBT report I also commenced a public consultation to allow all other interested parties to comment on the document and to offer any additional or alternative proposals. The public consultation closed in early June and more than 50 responses were received. My Department has been considering the responses received and related matters.

Building on the work of the Taskforce and the responses received, it is my intention to bring proposals for a National Broadband Plan to Government shortly with a view to agreeing a comprehensive set of policy actions to underpin the provision of high speed services on a national basis which will take due account of the NGBT report and the additional responses received.

The resources required to achieve the Government target cannot be quantified accurately at this time. The amount of funding required will depend on a number of high level factors, including the actual build rate of broadband infrastructure on a commercial basis and the level of funding the commercial sector will contribute to any market intervention to ensure high speed broadband is available in areas the market will not serve on a commercial basis.