Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
568. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the considerations which were given to rolling out an all-island broadband network; the detail of meetings between Irish and Northern Ireland and-or UK officials to discuss the possibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39309/17]
View answerThere have been no meetings between officials from my Department and our Northern Ireland counterparts in relation to an all island broadband network.
Achieving universal access to high speed broadband is a key target under the EU Digital Agenda for Europe which requires, inter alia, all Members States to publish National Broadband Plans to facilitate the achievement of high speed broadband access of at least 30Mbps to all citizens. The link to the Study on National Broadband Plans in the 28 EU-Member States is available at https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/broadband-member-states.
The Irish Government committed to facilitating investment with policy and regulatory support and to funding a State intervention to provide high speed broadband to all premises in the State.
The 2012 National Broadband Plan (NBP) published in August 2012 outlined the Government’s commitment to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland, regardless of location. Delivery of High Speed Broadband is a specific priority under the Programme for Government and reflects European objectives.
Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators providing services over a telecommunications network. The State is not a service provider and can only intervene, subject to EU competition rules, to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market has failed to deliver such services.
