Mr. Alex Chisholm:

Yes, that is correct. The average figure for Europe as a whole is that 68% receive broadband and in Ireland 65% have access to broadband. We are very close to the European average. Clearly one third of houses do not have broadband connections. As the Deputy will have noted from the published figures on broadband by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which deals with the national broadband scheme, it believes there is almost universal coverage. The fact that people do not have a broadband connection at home is a function of choice rather than the service not being available.

Work can be done to try to promote the uses of broadband and to ensure that people see how useful it is for the way they live and work. The so-called demand stimulation measures are part of the national broadband plan published at the end of August last year.