Vol. 577 No. 4
57 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps he proposes to take to improve Ireland's position in the telecommunications industry, with particular reference to competition from low wage economies and European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31355/03]
The Government's guiding vision for broadband is to have widespread availability of open access, affordable, always-on broadband infrastructure for businesses and citizens throughout the State within three years. As regards competitiveness, we wish to place Ireland within the top 10% of developed countries for broadband connectivity within that timeframe.
The regional broadband programme, for which an indicative €200 million of Government and European Regional Development Fund funding was set aside under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 is now under way and entails the roll-out of advanced communications infrastructure to all regions.
As the Minister announced on Thursday last, additional Government funding of €140 million has been secured under a multi-annual budget that will extend broadband availability to over 80 towns with an aggregate population of 350,000 people.
In a further announcement yesterday, the Minister outlined details of the new regional high-speed broadband connectivity framework deals with ESB telecoms and Esat BT that will be key drivers of broadband for over 40 towns in all four provinces. In addition to these developments, I welcome this week's announcement by Eircom that it intends to substantially extend its broadband coverage by 2005.
