Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Durkan is correct about the lack of uniformity of the service throughout the country. Unfortunately, that lack of uniformity is in every country with a rural population. We have the least densely populous rural demographics in the EU. That is not an excuse for creating a new digital divide in the country. We must do our utmost so that even where it is not commercial for the private operators to provide the service for which Deputy Durkan is arguing, the State will intervene. I accept that.

In respect of the short-term improvements sought by Deputy Durkan, be they fibre optic, wireless or satellite, they are proceeding apace at a faster rate than would have been anticipated even by the regulator. Unfortunately, it does not deal with Deputy Durkan's problem of the black spot where it is deficient regardless of whether it is mobile telephony or broadband. It is deficient. Previous investment by the State, for example, in the national broadband scheme or the metropolitan area networks around some 93 towns has certainly brought about a significant improvement but we are back to the requisite of State intervention to deal with the issue comprehensively.

In conclusion, I will give Deputy Durkan one example of the range of things I mentioned in my formal reply. This is the project envisaged by the ESB in respect of the use of its distribution system to roll out fibre to parts of Ireland that could not otherwise reasonably expect to have such a service delivered to them. The ESB has progressed it to the stage of having held its competition and now has a preferred bidder. In other words, it will open a joint venture with a leading telecommunications company to provide this service to parts of rural Ireland using the distribution system. As far as I know, it has only been done in Chattanooga in Tennessee. Due to the fact that we have an especially firm infrastructure and a temperate climate, the distribution system is capable of giving this service. It would be unheard of in the US or indeed in Europe for a fibre service to be provided in the fashion envisaged by the ESB. It is just one example and one that deserves the support of the House.

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