Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made by his Department in implementing the national digital strategy; if he is satisfied with the progress made to date on the national broadband scheme and its roll-out to rural areas; if he will fulfil in this term the promise under the 2011 programme for Government to deliver fibre to the home or kerb for 90% of homes and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10595/15]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made by his Department in implementing the national digital strategy, if he is satisfied with the progress made to date on the national broadband scheme and its roll-out to rural areas, if he will fulfil in this term the Government's promise under the 2011 programme for Government to deliver fibre to the home or kerb for 90% of homes and businesses, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The national digital strategy, which was launched in July 2013, focuses on driving digital adoption in three key areas: enterprise, citizens and education. Implementation of initiatives across these three strands is progressing well. The trading online voucher scheme aims to get 2,000 small businesses trading online. More than700 businesses have been awarded vouchers of up to €2,500. Roll-out of a further 1,300 vouchers continues. Early indications from the programme are that companies have experienced more sales and are expecting to recruit as a result.

Under the citizen component of the strategy, community and voluntary organisations are grant-aided to provide digital skills training to citizens. More than 116,000 training places have been delivered under the BenefIT scheme since 2008 and more than 30,000 citizens will be trained in 2015 at more than 700 locations nationwide.

Following the roll-out of 100 Mbps broadband to every second level school in Ireland, last year my Department and the Department of Education and Skills ran a series of so-called switch-on workshops for teachers to showcase how digital technologies can enhance teaching and learning.

In tandem with these measures to stimulate use of technology, the Government's national broadband plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high speed broadband service of at least 30 Mbps. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

Last November the Minister published a national high-speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked blue represent those areas that will have access to commercial high-speed broadband services by the end of 2016. The amber areas show the target areas for the State intervention.

Following further public consultation this summer, a detailed procurement process will be undertaken to select a preferred bidder or bidders. I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within five years. This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to address conclusively current connectivity challenges in Ireland.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The programme for Government 2011 promised that fibre would be delivered in its term to the home or kerb for 90% of homes. Has any millimetre of fibre been delivered by the Government in recent years? In respect of the broadband scheme, which was promised before the local elections in April 2014, where is it at in terms of state aid approval by the European Union? As we approach the first anniversary of that announcement, has it gone to the EU for approval and, if not, when is that likely to happen? Statistics show that in the region of 80% of the country does not have proper broadband. I had e-mails from parts of Dublin city and from colleagues on the local authorities in Dublin seeking information on broadband because some parts of their areas have very poor broadband facilities. As the commitment was given four years ago this week that fibre optic cable would be delivered to the home or kerb for 90% of homes, has any millimetre of that been rolled out? What is the position with the application to the European Union which was promised almost 12 months ago, prior to the local elections?

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his supplementary. It is important to point out that the new national broadband plan has to be technology neutral in terms of EU state guidelines. There has been much communication and consultation at European Union level. The Deputy's last question was about possible European Union funds and strands of funds. Consultation is under way to look at a combined package of money. Obviously, at this stage we cannot give a broad figure because the procurement process will start and it will be full steam ahead at the end of the year. In light of procurement, it is important we do not mention a figure. However, there has to be a bundle. There has to be national government funding, and there is possible European Investment Bank funding and a combination of funding.

In regard to the kerb, which was the Deputy's first question, there is investment by commercial operators, for example, by Vodafone and the ESB in 50 large towns and Eircom with a further roll-out at a commercial level. There is also fibre to cabinet delivery by semi-State companies for 70% of homes and businesses, with almost one third potentially having access to fibre to the premises.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Has any millimetre of fibre been delivered in the past four years under state aids or grants, given the commitment in the programme for Government? Where is it at? When the announcement was made last April in respect of the new broadband strategy, was it known at that time that application would have to be made to the European Union for state approval and was it a case of sending out a statement prior to the local and European elections that had no substance?

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The track record in terms of trying to get broadband roll-out for the whole country was 4 Mbps to 5 Mbps in certain instances under the previous programme. However, in trying to roll out a minimum of 30 Mbps to every house, the biggest challenge for Government is to ensure that it follows EU competition guidelines. That is where the urgency and the focus have been in terms of ensuring that legally we are not pushing one technology over another. As the Deputy is aware, some parts of his constituency have wireless.

From listening to people, fibre is a possible solution. There is a backbone of cabling belonging to Eircom and infrastructure belonging to the ESB. These could form part of the solution. Those companies have been ploughing ahead and putting fibre on their backbones and Eircom has announced that it will bring broadband to more homes and premises. More than 1 million premises have it now. The critical issue for the Government is to get this right, that being, a minimum of 30 Mbps. It cannot be the maximum in the long term, especially with so much data.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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About the State aid, when-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry, but we must make progress.