Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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470. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when high speed broadband will be rolled out in Abbeyfeale town, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1520/14]

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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473. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the broadband speed available to residents in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; if there are plans to improve broadband availability in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1584/14]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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474. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1612/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 470, 473 and 474 together.

Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including Counties Galway and Limerick, can be found on ComReg’s website at .

The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses, including those in Counties Galway and Limerick. This will be achieved by providing:

- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and

- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.

Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In the fixed line segment of the market, Eircom has announced plans to pass 1.4 million premises with its next generation broadband service, with speeds of up to 100Mbps, while UPC has increased its entry level and maximum speeds to 120Mbps and 200Mbps respectively. Mobile operators have also made announcements regarding network upgrades and are rolling out enhanced product offerings. I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in Ballinasloe in County Galway and in Abbeyfeale in County Limerick before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputies.

These developments have been facilitated through the implementation of measures in the National Broadband Plan, including the conclusion of ComReg's multiband spectrum auction, and the new regulatory regime for fixed line Next Generation Access and service bundles. Both of these measures are designed to incentivise the roll-out of services by operators.

In tandem with these developments, intensive work is underway in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next generation broadband access. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained. My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector over the coming years, the results of which will inform the areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.

Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.

Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.