Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Digital infrastructure is one of the four dimensions of the Government's national digital strategy, which was launched in February of this year. A progress report on the cross-governmental implementation of the national digital strategy was published last week. I encourage all Deputies to consider it.

As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for connectivity and the national broadband plan lies with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. I agree it is clear that robust broadband infrastructure will be vital in reaching our national digital strategy targets, which will enable businesses to take advantage of digital technologies and increase sustainable employment. Just last week, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published its digital connectivity strategy, which sets out the targets that will be achieved by the telecommunications sector in providing digital connectivity across the State. It also identifies the key enablers that will be implemented to ensure these targets are met.

As outlined in the White Paper on Enterprise, also published last week, sustained investment in digital infrastructure, including connectivity and cybersecurity, provides the foundations for our digital economy. As we said at the launch of the White Paper, it is all about getting good jobs for people and getting those jobs and investment opportunities to all parts of the country.

It is clear that connectivity will be vital in achieving progress in the targets for my Department, namely 75% enterprise take-up of cloud, big data and artificial intelligence by 2030, and 90% of SMEs at a basic level of digital intensity by 2030.

We now have nine regional enterprise plans in place, which will encourage collaboration among all the stakeholders to strengthen the regional offering for enterprise and therefore create an environment for successful economic growth, sustainable employment and development across the country. Digital connectivity will be a key enabler of this regional economy.

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