Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
135 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way she plans to promote the expanding cloud computing technology sector here; if she is actively seeking investment here from technology companies engaged in cloud computing services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12466/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra136 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether investment in cloud computing should be part of her smarter economy strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12467/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
Cloud computing is one of the most important transformations in the IT industry since the adoption of the Internet, as it facilitates computing-on-demand rather than computing-on-premise. This enables users to use just as much computing power as they need and to pay for it according to their demand. As such it enables convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, and services) that can be rapidly deployed with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
It is clear from both the Government's Smart Economy policy and the recently published Innovation Taskforce report that internet-based technologies, including cloud computing, will underpin the development and further growth of the IT sector here and assist Ireland's economic recovery and growth. Internet-based technologies and business models are a key feature of innovation and productivity and cloud computing in particular will enable companies to control their IT costs by reducing expenditure on IT equipment and infrastructure in favour of using hosted facilities.
Business opportunities are being driven by existing communications-intensive sectors, which includes cloud computing, and Ireland is already taking a lead in a number of areas in this regard, supported through the efforts of the enterprise development agencies.
For example, IDA Ireland has identified data centres and ecosystem services around cloud computing as an important growth area for Ireland, leveraging off the significant investments already made here by leading ICT multinationals and IDA clients such as IBM, Hewlett Packard and Intel. The IDA's aim is to win further investments that result from convergence, enabled by technologies such as cloud computing. New collaborations between existing clients in different sectors and between those clients and other firms and/or universities in Ireland are increasing and will be a source of jobs in the next five years.
Enterprise Ireland's Strategy for Development of the Software Sector features transition programmes to assist software companies to change their business models to take advantage of Cloud computing. These programmes will address a range of issues including data protection, confidentiality and security.
There are a number of very significant research groups in the higher education institutions, either currently or previously funded by Science Foundation Ireland, which are working in the cloud computing area, and examples include:
The Computer Architecture and Grid Research Group at Trinity College Dublin;
The Hamilton Institute at NUI Maynooth;
The Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI) — a SFI Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology based at NUI Galway.
In addition to currently funded groups, Science Foundation Ireland also has a number of additional research proposals currently under review in the cloud/data centre area. These investments will help underpin the development of cloud computing in Ireland.
Investment in Cloud computing is a significant opportunity for the private sector where the significant business potential of providing services in this area is recognised. The Government and enterprise development agencies can, and are, providing significant assistance in realising the potential of cloud computing.
