Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I am sharing time with him. I am unsure how much time I will take at this point.

In common with other speakers, I welcome the introduction of this legislation. It is a progressive step to enable the ESB to provide fibre on its networks and in respect of broadband, it probably is one of the most progressive steps that could have been taken by a Government to ensure this would happen. As Members are aware, the ESB is a company that already has a relationship with every household and business in the country. Consequently, it is a perfect fit for it to be able to provide fibre-optic broadband by wrapping fibre on their existing networks. I note that the ESB already has fibre wrapped on its transmission network nationwide on the larger lines from 110 kV upwards, which is useful and has linked the metropolitan area networks around the country. While this is useful, the real difference and impact can be made as the company starts to roll out fibre onto the connections to houses and businesses nationwide.

That is why the Bill is to be welcomed. The existing policy up to now on providing broadband has been to rely on the market. That has left many areas behind, including rural areas but also areas where people are trying to operate businesses and create and maintain jobs. They are not getting a service that is in any way reliable or up to standard. Providing a proper fibre optic broadband network could act as a major stimulus across the country, enabling people to create businesses, do their business and access education.

In recent years we have relied on mobile telephony to provide broadband and bridge the gap. It has failed and is not capable of providing the service people need. The provider for the rural broadband scheme, 3, wants to build 160 masts to provide its broadband service across the country. We know everything this invokes in communities across the country when masts are erected. The legislation provides the opportunity to avoid all of that disruption across communities and the country by providing a reliable and resilient service for everybody. That is the way we should go. I urge the Minister to ensure after this legislation is passed it is rolled out to the significant number of households across the country in order that people can access modern fibre networks.

In Ireland approximately 2% to 3% of households have access to a fibre connection. In Estonia over 30% have access, while in Portugal almost 20% have such access. These are countries that would not be seen as the most digitally advanced or progressive. We aim to pitch ourselves at the heart of information technology and information provision through the Internet; therefore, we should aim to have universal coverage across the country. As has been mentioned, Australia began a project a couple of years ago to roll out fibre broadband to every house in the country. When that project is completed, a huge proportion of the country will have access to proper broadband speeds. We should look to go that way and it could unleash great potential.

The Western Development Commission published a report a couple of years ago examining the creative industries. It estimated that the creative industries in the north-west region alone could create approximately 18,000 jobs simply by improving access to the Internet in order that they could sell their wares across it. These businesses are not being thought of at all. We regard foreign direct investment as a way of rebuilding the economy. We can consider the individuals involved in creative industries who could establish new industries that might not have been thought of by having access to a proper telecommunications infrastructure. That is the opportunity this legislation opens up to us. It is like when the ESB set out to electrify the country in the rural electrification scheme in the 1950s. Now it could be used as a vehicle to turn on the whole country and light fibre across the country. That is to be welcomed. As has been said, it is probably a little late but better late than never. We commend the Minister for ensuring this is happening. When he sums up on Second Stage, will he outline his plans, if any, to ensure as wide a roll-out as possible of a fibre optic network? We should look to invest in this as a state to assist the ESB in providing this service because it would pay huge dividends in the long run and, as a stimulus, make a significant difference to people's lives across the country. Given that the ESB is a semi-State company, we would be able to invest in it and provide funding to ensure this happened. I urge the Minister to ensure it will happen to provide access for all to a proper broadband service, with proper download and upload speeds, and open up the innovation and skills available across the country. Jobs and new businesses would come from it and real innovation would take place.

This legislation is welcome and I hope it will go through without any problem and be welcomed across the board. I hope the ESB is geared up and ready to go in rolling out the fibre network that is envisaged and that we will see in the coming years access to suitable broadband across the country. I congratulate the Minister on bringing forward the legislation.

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