Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
141 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the timetable for the modernisation of the telecommunications system including broadband here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13890/04]
View answer143 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources this country’s rating in terms of modern telecommunications in the top ten throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13892/04]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 141 and 143 together.
The provision of and investment in telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised marketplace, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.
It is important that the regulatory environment underpins the development of available, affordable and competitive broadband services. In that regard, I issued a policy direction on 26 March 2004 to the Commission for Communications Regulation stating that our broadband goal is to be at or better than the EU average, excluding accession countries, for end-user access to, and usage of, broadband by mid-2005.
While recent reports show that Ireland lags behind our European neighbours in terms of broadband penetration, there is evidence of significant growth in take up of broadband in Ireland in the past year. The number of broadband subscribers has risen tenfold from less than 5,000 in January 2003 to an estimate of 50,000 currently; much of this due to improved pricing by service providers. Recognising, however, that the market has been slow to respond to demand for broadband, since 1999 my Department has invested almost €170 million, in partnership with the public and private sectors, in infrastructure projects that will enable the provision of modern, high-speed broadband communications in the regions. Currently, my Department is grant aiding the construction of 25 fibre optic metropolitan area networks, in conjunction with local authorities, in key regional towns and cities. This investment of up to €80 million will enable the delivery of competitive, open access, broadband services in these towns.
On 12 December last I announced a broadband action plan which has two main elements. The first consists of proposals to roll out open access broadband infrastructure to over 90 towns with a population of over 1,500, and the second consists of the development of a group broadband scheme which will grant aid community-led initiatives promoting the rollout of broadband access in small towns, villages and rural hinterlands. I have secured a commitment of €35 million each year from now until 2007 to ensure the implementation of this broadband action plan.
In addition, on the provision of broadband to schools, the Government has reached agreement with the telecommunications industry as represented by IBEC-TIF for the establishment of a joint Government and IBEC-TIF fund to resource the provision of high speed broadband connectivity to all first and second level schools nationwide. Under the proposed agreement, IBEC-TIF members will contribute €15 million to a joint Government and IBEC-TIF fund of €18 million. This fund will be used to provide broadband connectivity to all schools over a three year period.
