Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for raising this matter. The Government recognises that high-speed broadband network deployment is of strategic importance for growth and innovation in all sectors of Ireland's economy and society. On 29 September last, the Government approved an allocation of €275 million for the national broadband plan which will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the State intervention. Combined with commercial investment, this will ensure 85% of Ireland’s premises have high-speed broadband by 2018, with 100% coverage by 2020.

I might just remark on the question of what the Government has achieved. We can certainly come back to this in detail in due course if we get an opportunity to do so. It is envisaged that by the end of 2016, which is just over a year from now, high-speed broadband will be available to 1.6 million addresses in Ireland. It is currently available to well in excess of 1 million addresses. This compares with a figure of just 300,000 in 2011. While that might not necessarily be a success in the Deputy's eyes, it is certainly not a catalogue of failure on the part of the Government. I will, when I get an opportunity to do so, come back to the question of how we measure the success of what we are doing.

The provisions set out in the capital plan give an indication of the scale of the investment that is envisaged. As I have said previously, however, the plan does not set out the full cost. The full contract period cost of the programme will emerge out of the tendering process that is about to begin. Ireland’s proposed broadband intervention strategy, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by the Government in respect of State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention, what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention, including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contact for services and whether the network should be public or privately owned. All these matters were set out when the strategy was published on 15 July last.

The intervention strategy has been developed following intensive engagement with industry and wider stakeholders. The strategy is also informed by detailed input from the expert advisers who were commissioned by the Department to produce the seven expert reports which are published on www.broadband.gov.ie. The key principles underpinning the proposed intervention strategy include the delivery of high-speed broadband to all premises that will not be able to access such services through commercial investment alone. The strategy aims to address conclusively current and future connectivity deficits throughout Ireland and to ensure services are affordable, competitive and on a par with those available in the commercial areas. The strategy will ensure value for money and compliance with EU state aid guidelines through a technology-neutral procurement process.

I will give the House an idea of the profile of the area that is expected to be addressed by the State part of the intervention strategy. The commercial investments will be taking place in parallel with that. The State intervention will cover 96% of the national land mass of the State. This involves approximately 30% of the homes and businesses in the State. Having given us a reasonable account of the experience in the constituency he hails from, Deputy Ó Caoláin will appreciate that just under 30% of the homes and premises in this country are located on approximately 96% of the land mass. For example, practically all farms are in the State intervention area as they will not be covered by the commercial sector. We have given this information previously, but it is worth repeating.

If the State intervention we have embarked on was a road network, which it is not, it would be 100,000 km of road network. I mention that to give people an idea of the equivalence. It includes all the offshore islands and covers 757,000 postal addresses. 1.8 million citizens, 38% of the national labour force, 34% of white collar employees, 89% of farm employees, 94% of farms, more than 62,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, primarily micro SMEs, and 1,522 schools. That list will give the House an idea of what needs to be addressed by State intervention because the commercial sector will not deliver it. The commercial sector will go to approximately 70% of homes and businesses. This State intervention is necessary to ensure people who live in relatively remote areas throughout the country, including parts of Deputy Ó Caoláin's constituency, can enjoy the same access to high-speed broadband as those of us who live in cities.

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