Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to engage with the Minister. I welcome the investment in broadband provision in schools. It is important that the facility is available. There is no doubt that the challenge for the education system is to avail of this investment by using this infrastructure and maximising its potential. It cannot be said that the facility has not been provided. I commend the Minister and the Government on that.

Like Deputy Harrington, I agree that the focus needs to change now. I know the Minister is interested in balanced regional development, which we often discuss. Forfás has identified - this was reflected in the economic strategy for Waterford city following the amalgamation of the city and county councils - that the extension of the Aurora dark fibre network to the south east, the region from which I come, is essential to give it an equal footing on which to compete for business. I ask that provision be made in that regard, perhaps when future Estimates are being planned.

Significant investment has already been made in the metropolitan area networks. The Minister referred to the ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013. I will support that legislation, as a result of which another service provider will have access to infrastructure and will be able to deliver broadband to the regions. I will support the Minister when we consider that welcome legislation later in the week. Is there an overall system of co-ordination of the various broadband service providers?

A great deal of taxpayers' money has been invested in the metropolitan area networks. Have all of them been lit now? Are they being accessed to the degree that was planned? Are they being co-ordinated with the various other networks, such as those provided by ESB Telecoms and Eircom? I think Iarnród Éireann has some networks as well. If we are to maximise those networks so that businesses in the regions have competitive access to broadband, there needs to be an overall co-ordinating strategy. I would welcome the Minister's views on that.