Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State but I am disappointed that neither the Minister responsible for his area nor his junior Minister is present to take this debate. That demonstrates the emphasis the Department is putting on the provision of broadband in rural Ireland.

Over the past five years, the number of broadband subscriptions in the country has increased from 600,000 to almost 1.7 million. Competition in the broadband market has begun to heat up in recent months with eircom emerging from examinership in June, UPC upgrading its current services and the recent announcement that the ESB will enter the market. This has resulted in improved services for many urban dwellers but a digital divide is emerging between rural and urban areas. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has failed to address this matter with only 25% of homes targeted in its rural broadband scheme connecting to a broadband service. The scheme provided no subsidy for householders who wanted to get connected; it simply put them in touch with a company that was prepared to supply it for a fee.

EUROSTAT, the European statistics agency, found only 67% of Irish households had a broadband connection in the second quarter of 2013. This is well below the EU average of 76%. However, this figure is disputed, as broadband lobby group, Ireland Offline, said it is much worse. Its spokesman, Eamonn Wallace, says the EUROSTAT figure includes mobile broadband or 3G as well as satellite broadband, which he claims should not be classified as broadband. He says the speeds provided by 3G and satellite are barely fast enough even to book a flight. There is an urgent need to identify blackspots. For example, villages such as Ballinacarrigy, Ardagh, Legan, Rosemount, Castletown Geoghegan, Dysart, Monalee, Rathconnell and others in my constituency that are more than 6.5 km from a large town have no access to broadband.

Broadband is not a luxury. It is a critical utility for householders and businesses. The Government talks regularly about supporting businesses in their communities. There are many communities outside the Pale and outside county towns. The Government needs to come forward early in the new year with a proper plan to prioritise and identify blackspots and to ensure it is attractive for broadband providers to service rural communities. It is not economically feasible for providers to furnish broadband in these areas. However, people cannot work from home and they urgently need access to this critical infrastructure. I look forward to the Minister of State's contribution.

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