Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
495. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will comment on Údarás na Gaeltachta's annual report, which notes that access to high-speed broadband is still a challenge for companies in some Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3856/13]
View answer496. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with reference to Údarás na Gaeltachta's annual report, which notes that access to high-speed broadband is still a challenge for companies in some Gaeltacht areas, if he will indicate his strategy for addressing this electronic infrastructure issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3857/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together.
Broadband connectivity, as an enabling infrastructure for economic and social development, is a critical element of future sustainable economic growth and a priority for Government. In terms of telecommunications policy, my Department plays a key role in providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment within which competition can flourish and private sector investment can take place.
The telecommunications market in Ireland has been fully liberalised since 1999 and, since then, has seen the steady growth and development of vibrant well-regulated competition in the provision of the full range of telecommunications products and services. The Government is not a player in this market and can only intervene in cases of clear market failure. It has, in the past, undertaken, following EU State aid clearance, a number of initiatives to bring broadband to those parts of the country where operators have been unable to offer services on a commercial basis. State investment in the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) are examples of such interventions.
With basic broadband services widely available across Ireland, the focus is now on accelerating the roll out of high speed services. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, including those located in Gaeltacht areas. During the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015. The areas to be provided with those services will be determined by the commercial market operators.
My Department is making preparations to commence a formal national mapping exercise to determine the exact position in relation to commercial service providers’ existing and planned broadband services throughout the country. This exercise will identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years and will therefore inform the level of Government interaction that may be required and the areas that need to be targeted.
It will also form a critical input to an EU State Aids application in respect of any intervention. I would reiterate that the Government remains committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland, including Gaeltacht areas, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity, through public or private sector investment as outlined in the National Broadband Plan. In specific regard to Údarás na Gaeltachta, my Department had had no request on this issue from the agency but would be happy to meet Údarás officials to discuss its concerns. Contact will be made to set up such a meeting.
