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

The MANs project involved fibre optic investment in many locations throughout the country. In several places in the west, for example, and in other parts of the country the MANs were never lit up. This was because while the fibre might have been in the community there was no connectivity back through the country to Dublin or no proper connections. This meant it was in the ground and deemed to be a stranded asset and no one could actually use it, or, if one sought to use it, one would have had to pay up to between €6,000 and €10,000 per business connection. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have been active in respect of what they call lighting up the MANs. A significant number of MANs have been lit. In other words, they are active and are being used. We can get the Deputy the figures after the discussion today.

The second issue related to the question of business investment. If companies are in competition with each other then costs will come down. Let us consider the offers for mobile telephone, fixed landline or broadband connections. There is a good deal more competition now and it has been led by private investment. When businesses see an opportunity they will invest. It is in areas where no one will invest that State investment should be particularly considered. In communities where in the past there was no service it is incumbent on the State to ensure there is no regional or local variations in that respect.

Reference was made to jobs and enterprises and the Deputy provided several statistics. In terms of the percentage of all enterprises with ten or more employees with a mobile broadband connection to the Internet Ireland ranked 13th in the European Union. For enterprises with between ten and 49 employees Ireland ranked 13th for mobile broadband and for enterprises between 50 and 249 employees in terms of mobile broadband Ireland ranked 10th. Therefore in terms of mobile broadband we are well connected.

The other important point raised by the Deputy related to NewERA, the Fine Gael programme under which we campaigned during the general election and the Irish strategic infrastructure fund. One of the areas where there will be significant investment is broadband. NewERA will be working with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in this regard. I expect there will be significant developments in respect of getting more efficient and faster broadband for more people, homes and businesses throughout the country. There is a table I can ask to have circulated showing where Ireland ranks in respect of the different types of broadband connections, if that is helpful.

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