Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be happy to bring the Deputy's point on the type of survey done to the attention of the CSO. The national broadband plan was launched by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, on 30 August 2012.

The targets include having 70 megabytes to 100 megabytes for at least 50% of the population, with the majority having access to the latter, to be delivered by 2015 through the commercial sector. Further, at least 40 megabytes per second, and, in many cases, much faster speeds for a least a further 20% of the population and potentially to 35% of people in smaller towns and villages will be delivered through a combination of commercial and State investment. There will be an absolute minimum of 13 megabytes per second available to all irrespective of location in the State.

Several actions are also outlined in the plan including investment by the telecommunications industry and implementation of State-led investment in areas where the commercial sector will not provide high-speed broadband. In other words, where it is not being provided commercially, the State will look at investing in that area. Other actions include the publication of a national digital strategy aimed at stimulating businesses and consumer demand, a review of radio spectrum policy and regulation to clarify the role of the State-owned assets infrastructure in the deployment of broadband services and the removal of barriers, including planning issues and road opening, which can impede investment.

The investment in broadband is significant from companies, including Eircom, which bring fibre to the cabinet in my constituency. This means there will be significant increases in fibre to the cabinet. This means the copper wire will continue to run from one's home to the telecommunications cabinet but there will be a significant increase in broadband in many homes throughout the country, depending on the distance from one's home to the cabinet. UPC is spending approximately €500 million on improving Internet connectivity throughout the country. There have been significant developments in private investment and more are expected.

We are not at the bottom of the league in Europe. I can provide the statistics if the Deputy seeks further detail, but we are in fact doing well. According to EUROSTAT, in 2011 throughout the 27 EU countries, some 94% of all enterprises with ten or more employees had access to the Internet, with 94% of small enterprises, that is, those with between ten and 49 employees had access. Some 99% of medium-sized enterprises, that is, those with up to 249 employees, had access, while 100% of large enterprises, that is, those with greater than 250 employees had access. In Ireland in 2012 up to 94% of all enterprises with ten or more employees had access to the Internet, while 93% of small enterprises had access and 98% of medium-sized enterprises had access. Fully 100% of large enterprises had access to the Internet. Notwithstanding all the issues we have, we are doing remarkably well and the national broadband plan and strategy is in place and is being funded. Private and commercial companies are also investing and participating in this plan.

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