1497 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to amend the planning regulation to require that all new homes and buildings are equipped with a fibre-optic connections to the nearest cabinet for telecommunications purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33117/10]

My Department is participating on a working group with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Commission for Energy Regulation to consider the recommendations in the report, Next Generation Broadband — Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland, which was published in June 2009. One of the recommendations in the document is that new premises in Ireland will be required to install open-access fibre connections, where practicable.

The Working Group is considering a number of issues, including specific technical issues involved and the most appropriate mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of any requirements, and expects to conclude its work shortly.