Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen. I congratulate my colleagues in the Independent group on tabling this important motion. Broadband represents the future and the Independent Senators have done a worthwhile job in bringing forward the motion which merits serious consideration.

There are a number of compelling reasons the availability and use of broadband are important. Foreign direct investment into this country is critically affected by broadband availability. Representatives of IDA Ireland and other agencies seeking such investment indicate that one of the first questions asked by potential investors relates to the availability of broadband.

The availability of broadband is as critical today as was the availability of electricity when the rural electrification scheme was initiated. Any efforts at regional development and trying to achieve equality of growth throughout the country are contingent on the availability of broadband. If people wish to work at home and if we want to encourage small industries to develop, it is clearly necessary. It is vital that broadband be available if we are to encourage larger industrial interests to transfer their operations from major population centres to the regions.

We live in an information age and people want to access and disperse information quickly. It is important for students and others to be able to gain immediate access to information. The availability of broadband also has implications for people's quality of life, which is an important aspect in addition to any considerations relating to industry and enterprise.

The Central Statistics Office's household survey indicates that in the first quarter of 2007, 31% of households — three out of every ten — had a broadband connection. That figure is appalling in one sense. It is somewhat heartening in another sense, however, because it represents a doubling of the figure for the previous year. Overall it gives rise to concern because we must ask why two thirds of households do not have a broadband connection. According to the survey to which I refer, 65% of households have personal computers, PCs. This is important and encouraging because it represents a first step on the road towards the use of broadband.

The Minister of State said that we do not want the creation of a digital divide, either socially or regionally. I am afraid that such a divide already exists. Recent figures indicate that the uptake in respect of the use of broadband in counties Leitrim, Cavan, Roscommon, Longford and Wexford stands at approximately 10%. This compares with rates of 32% in Dublin and 23.7% in Kildare. I was disturbed to discover that the figure relating to uptake in County Cavan is 9.1%. Ireland is at the lower end among OECD countries regarding uptake or use of broadband in the home, which is terrible.

The uptake and use of broadband are affected by a number of issues. The first issue that affects the degree to which people will take up and use broadband relates to availability. Large numbers of our population live in dispersed rural communities, particularly in the counties to which I refer. In many areas, broadband is not available. People cannot avail of a service if it is not being provided.

The second issue of critical importance in the context of uptake relates to cost. While Ireland has the lowest figure for uptake among OECD countries, it is a sad fact and an indictment of our approach to broadband that the price relating to connection and the maintenance thereof is the fourth highest in the OECD. In Bailieborough, County Cavan, it costs €35 per month to maintain a broadband connection. That is a high price for many people to pay and for others it is prohibitive. Price is, therefore, a significant disincentive in the context of broadband use. This is a matter to which the Government must give serious consideration.

The third issue to which I wish to refer relates to the fact that the speed at which information can be transferred via broadband in this country is relatively low. Anecdotal evidence and that provided by surveys indicates that another issue — it is difficult to quantify but it is critical — that requires examination is the lack of training or competence among large numbers of the population in respect of the use of broadband. This is obviously a disincentive in respect of obtaining and using a broadband connection.

Just as it is incumbent on the Government to address issues relating to availability and usage, it is equally incumbent upon it to address the matter of training. There is no evidence that the Fianna Fáil-Green Party-Progressive Democrats Government is serious about broadband. A sum of €10 million was recently diverted from information and communications technology, ICT, projects, mainly those relating to broadband, to renewable energy grants. The Minister of State excused this on the grounds that the broadband scheme was not yet ready for such expenditure.

There is need for a more aggressive marketing strategy to encourage the take-up of broadband. There is no investment in the budget in respect of new generation broadband. The Minister of State referred to new generation technology but all he said was that it is being studied and examined and that position papers are being adopted. We should be investing hard cash because action, not examination, is required. It is salutary to bear in mind that there is 100% connectivity in Northern Ireland while the level here remains very low. High-speed broadband is essential to the entire country. It is almost a right at this stage.

Like the Independent Senators, I appeal to the Government to withdraw the amendment. Those in Government should raise their hands and admit that not enough is being done and that serious action is required. If they do so, this Administration might begin to gain credibility and we could then support its efforts to take action and deal with this matter. However, while the Government maintains this position and persists with pushing this type of amendment that suggests all is well, it should not merit support.

I appeal to the Senators opposite to withdraw the amendment to the motion. I commend the motion to the House. I congratulate my colleagues on tabling it and on the manner in which they proposed and seconded it.