Damien English
Ceist:78 Mr. English asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which Ireland compares to its EU neighbours in relation to broadband roll-out and e-readiness. [16023/03]
Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.
The latest available European Commission figures indicate that Ireland currently stands in seventh place in the EU in terms of Internet penetration rate. This places us ahead of the EU average. In comparison to other OECD countries, Ireland remains at the lower end of the league table in terms of broadband penetration. However, there have recently been a number of significant developments which should lead to a greater take up of the Internet and broadband services and is likely to improve Ireland's international ranking. In addition, Ireland has performed strongly according to a number of other information society benchmarks, particularly in the usage of wireless technologies, which will become increasingly important in the broadband area.
A number of communications companies offering DSL services have recently announced major reductions in the prices of their broadband services bringing the cost of DSL in line with the European norm. This is likely to further assist broadband penetration. In accordance with the provisions of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, on 21 February last I issued a set of policy directions to the Commission for Communications Regulation focusing on a number of key policy priorities for the commission in the short to medium term, including the introduction of flat-rate Internet access call origination, known as FRIACO. This will be introduced before the end of June 2003.
Although in our liberalised telecommunications market, it is primarily a matter for the private sector operators to invest in the appropriate infrastructure and services, my Department has a role in addressing priority areas where the private sector alone will not deliver the necessary infrastructure within the timescale necessary to critical national objectives. Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, provision has been made for significant investment in broadband infrastructure. The funding is being used and will be used by my Department to run programmes of targeted intervention to accelerate the delivery of faster and cheaper communications services by the private sector throughout the country.
The current call for proposals focuses on the provision of open access to broadband infrastructure, constructed in 19 towns around the country. The regional broadband programme involves an investment by my Department of over €65 million and it is expected that all networks will be fully complete and operational by July 2004. The issue of Ireland's e-readiness is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Hanafin, who is responsible for the information society. However, the development of our underlying telecommunications infrastructure, in the form of the initiatives previously outlined, is widely recognised as an area of critical importance to our e-readiness. In terms of our overall e-readiness, Ireland has consistently performed strongly in the e-Europe benchmarking process. In fact, Ireland has performed strongest of all EU member states in the area of e-Government since November 2001.