Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband quality and service will improve on an annual basis over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4170/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. Therefore decisions on when and where to locate investment are always taken on commercial grounds, having regard to the likely return on investment. I have no role in relation to day to day operations of commercial telecommunication companies.

The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.

On the 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. This consultation will close on the 12th February next. The map can be accessed at . The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high speed broadband services of at least 30Mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State.

The map allows all members of the public to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands throughout the entire country.

It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.

Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy, which will be the subject of further public consultation in mid-2015.

Following the public consultation, towards the end of this year a detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders. I am keen to see the implementation begin as quickly as possible and completed at the earliest opportunity. I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having the final homes and businesses connected within a 5 year period.