Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the departmental officials and thank them for the presentation. The delivery and upgrading of the broadband network is one of the major issues facing society in respect of economic and social development in the future and is a major priority. I wish to ask questions on a number of issues. The delivery of broadband also has the potential to create a huge divide between urban and rural areas and between isolated locations and less isolated urban and large centres of population. This was evident in the presentation made by the previous delegation with regard to networks and the major urban centres. When young people who have gone through college and have had the benefit of high quality broadband contemplate setting up a small industry at home or whatever, their first question concerns the availability of broadband because it is the connection into the 21st century and the world beyond.

The Secretary General mentioned a number of matters in his presentation. He noted that the outcome of the mapping exercise will inform the procurement process for State intervention. He might provide members with some clarification regarding this exercise. For example, when is it likely to be before the Department? When does the Department hope to have all this information ready?

Mr. Dunning also mentioned how Government intervention will only take place when it is evident the market will not deliver. While members understand the parameters within which the Government must work, what State intervention is proposed under such circumstances? As for the cost of broadband connection to the consumer, is Ireland's relative position above the European Union average?

While I welcome the plan announced, I would love to believe we will be able to get to those speeds in the timeframe envisaged. That would be a great plus for the country. We are all aware of people with a particular expertise who have developed businesses in the remotest parts of the country, but the one issue holding them back is connectivity to broadband. The plan is very ambitious, but how realistic is it that we will get to those speeds and achieve the targets set in the timeframe envisaged?