Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am thankful for the opportunity to address this motion. It is important because it is the first Private Members' motion introduced by the rural Independent group to the Thirty-second Dáil. It is a very important issue. Broadband was one of the major issues in my election campaign, as I am sure it was in the campaign of the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and other individuals. It is still a source of great frustration.

Broadband is the digital highway to the outside world, connecting us socially, culturally, educationally and, most importantly, economically. Areas across Ireland with poor broadband are at a serious disadvantage. It is not only rural Ireland that is suffering. In Clare, we have towns like Ennis, Shannon, Kilkee, Kilrush and Sixmilebridge that have very poor broadband, which is inhibiting the economic development in these areas. Schools are struggling to download educational material and pupils are struggling to complete research projects. Socially and culturally, low speed broadband means our young people find it very difficult to stay in rural communities. Elderly people are socially isolated because of the poor broadband in their areas.

Most important, economic growth and development is constrained by poor broadband. One cannot set up or run a business or sell online without adequate broadband. Broadband is as important to a business as electricity, and one expects to have electricity when one turns on a switch. At the same time, we expect high speed broadband when we turn on a computer or click on a mobile phone.

We are still in a precarious financial position. Brexit has unknown consequences and more than ever we need high speed broadband to be competitive. If the model chosen by the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is to save us €1 billion, it is the option to go for as it allows us to invest in hospitals, education, infrastructure and capital programmes. Additionally, it will speed up the roll-out of broadband. If we saw a delay of six or nine months on top of the current delay of six to nine months, people could become very frustrated. No constituent has brought to my attention concerns about ownership of the network. I am not concerned by who owns the wires bringing electricity to my home or my phone or fax connections to the house or my medical practice.

Who would have believed 25 years ago that we could connect to the outside world, enrol in education, work from home, grow business, exchange information and speak and see someone in real time anywhere in the world through the Internet? Most people are paying for very poor broadband now. They are not concerned by who owns the network or the cost and they are only concerned about when they will get high speed broadband. People are hungry for broadband. Who knows what communication will be like in 25 years? It is certain that it will be completely different from what it is today. Looking back 25 years, one could not believe the changes that have occurred. Nobody is worried about who is going to own the network in 2043 or 2044.

It is futile to worry about that. The broadband speed in my home is 0.25 Mbps. One can practically see the little bytes dropping into the computer. It is appalling. We cannot operate a medical practice efficiently and we cannot download files.

I commend this Bill to this House. We are finally about to start on a planned, coherent roll-out of broadband to every part of Ireland. There is no perfect plan, so let us get on with this plan and allow Ireland to enter the modern world as part of Europe and as part of the digital family.

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