Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is widely acknowledged that the Internet is a key tool in reducing poverty and developing prosperity in any region. A report commissioned by the World Bank stated that an additional ten broadband lines per 100 people increased the gross domestic product of a country by 1.21%. It is clearly demonstrated that rolling out high-speed broadband to every home in the country would significantly benefit the Irish economy. I have raised the matter before and I wrote to the Minister about it this week. The Government has failed to ensure broadband is available to all the families and businesses across rural Ireland, so much so that we have the most pronounced two-tier coverage in Europe.

My constituency, Cavan-Monaghan, is a sprawling rural constituency, and is geographically the largest in the country. Its rural make up and the topography of drumlin countryside mean whole areas are ill-served and, therefore, severely disadvantaged in their ability to compete in business, exam preparation and all the other uses people make of high-speed broadband. These areas are unable to compete with other parts of the country, especially the large, populous cities. This discrimination must end. While next generation access coverage in Ireland stands at 71% of households across the country as a whole, it stands at only 8% for rural areas. We have a major issue to address.

The Irish Rural Network estimates that 10,000 jobs are lost in rural areas every year due to poor broadband service and it has been brought to my attention in the recent past that people are not only considering relocation from their rural home bases, but some have already relocated for business, education and other reasons, compounding the exodus rural Ireland has suffered during recent years due to the economic downturn. In order to ensure regional and rural areas are not disadvantaged, additional State investment is required to deploy next generation infrastructure outside the main urban centres.

I am delighted that an announcement has been made since I tabled this matter. Will the Minister outline the plans to address the continuing failure on the part of all providers, including the State and the other entities which also have a responsibility, to ensure equal access across the jurisdiction to high-speed broadband affording households, businesses and all users throughout rural Ireland the same quality of service and ability to compete on a level playing field as their city-dwelling fellow citizens?

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