Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of broadband service in the Kinlough area of north Leitrim; if he will, through his Department and the local authority, provide any solution regarding this lack of vital modern communications infrastructure for this community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2377/14]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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404. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of broadband service in the Strandhill, Kilmakeon and Knocknarea areas of County Sligo; if he will, through his Department and the local authority, provide any solution regarding this lack of vital modern communications infrastructure for this community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2378/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 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 the Irish market 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 Leitrim and Sligo. 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. 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 rollout of services by operators. I am aware of at least one service provider announcing that it will be providing advanced broadband services in Kinlough in County Leitrim and in Strandhill in County Sligo before July 2016 and my Department will be happy to discuss this further with the Deputy.

The Plan recognises the importance of efficient and cost effective approval systems to facilitate the rollout of telecommunciations infrastructure. Since its publication, changes to the planning and permitting regimes have taken place or are underway. These changes include new guidelines to Local Authorities from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to mast infrastructure, the development of a software platform to accept single electronic applications to Local Authorities for road openings and for installation of street furniture, as well as guidance from the National Roads Authority in relation to hosting telecommunications infrastructure along all major routes.

In tandem with commercial 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.