Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
57 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the report by the Commission of European Communities presented at the recent EU broadband conference in Dundalk that shows that Ireland is currently second last in the EU broadband league with just 0.9% of the population having broadband in January 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13680/04]
View answer67 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which Ireland compares to other European countries with regard to supply and roll-out of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13626/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 67 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.
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 over €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. This plan has two main elements — proposals to roll out open access broadband infrastructure to over 90 towns with a population of over 1,500, and the development of a group broadband scheme which will grant aid community led initiatives promoting the roll-out 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.
With regard to the broadband report presented by Commission of the European Communities in Dundalk last month, while the data presented in the report shows 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 ten-fold 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.
The investment made in broadband infrastructure by my Department and the improvements in the regulatory environment that I directed ComReg to make is now paying off and there is much wider availability of broadband services throughout the country. Over the coming years I will continue to place an emphasis on the development of infrastructure that will see Ireland's ranking greatly improve.
