Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Twelve months ago when I took over as Minister, 52% of premises had access to high speed broadband.

Within the next 85 weeks, 77% of premises will have access to high speed broadband. During my period as Minister, one in four premises in this country, the vast majority of them rural premises, will have access to high speed broadband, many of them receiving up to 1,000 Mbps, which is the fastest possible broadband speed in the world.

The national broadband plan has also stimulated investment across the commercial companies, which are spending €1.7 million per day. It will be seen that, across the amber areas, companies like Imagine have put up signage advertising up to 70 Mbps. Westnet and Ripplecom have made announcements and there will be a further announcement by a wireless company in the next few weeks in regard to the rollout.

I know there are concerns among people in amber areas across the country. Let me say this to them. One of the biggest amber areas in the country is in my constituency so I am more determined than anyone in the House to ensure this issue is resolved. It will be resolved in the short term through supporting the investment in mobile and wireless broadband services, which at least provide people with a service that can deal with the issues to which Deputy Dooley referred earlier in regard to children doing their homework and so forth, and can ensure that people have access to services such as video streaming. In the longer term, this will mean we can provide high speed broadband to every one of those premises.

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