Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I thank you for your direction, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister. Apart from being unduly exuberant, the Government is somewhat premature in congratulating itself on its success in the area of broadband to date, which is why we tabled a sobering amendment to give some balance to the discussion. I hope Senator Carty sees fit to accept the amendment.

There are many misconceptions about the current level of broadband coverage. One of the most distorting aspects is the maps that have been available to date which do not always show the topography of the country and the areas, such as valleys, that are not covered. I can identify large areas in my constituency that are not covered, and I know this to be the experience of colleagues in the same area. We have not reached a level of coverage that is anything like adequate. I was dealing recently with representations from an area beside a large provincial town which does not have broadband coverage. I am told of areas 15 miles from Dublin, including in Wicklow, without proper coverage. This emerged at the meeting today of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Coverage is by no means universal and quite sketchy in many places. The maps hide areas in which coverage is bad. The national broadband scheme is welcome but the delay in its implementation is regrettable. However, even with the national broadband scheme, 12,000 homes would not be covered, which represents a considerable area without coverage. This information is provided by the organisation Irish Rural Link and the figures are accepted by the Department. The lack of a full broadband service is serious, with large tracts of the country not covered by the national broadband scheme. Dernakesh, in the hinterland of Cootehill, a reasonably sized provincial town, does not have broadband coverage. This is repeated throughout the country. As a Senator I get communications from councillors who regularly tell me they do not have broadband. I have heard this message in Westmeath, Louth, north County Dublin and Wicklow, all the counties in my own area and across Connnacht-Ulster. It is important to widen coverage.

Eircom is not in a strong position to deliver next generation broadband services and that is a concern. It has admitted its financial position is difficult, with a debt burden of €3.7 billion, and the parent company in Australia, Babcock & Brown, is struggling to survive. That has implications for the delivery of next generation broadband and our economic development. The Government must intervene. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources expressed the view that Eircom would need to be taken into State ownership to attract investment and ensure sufficient capital for the development of next generation broadband.

The amendment points out that broadband, especially next generation broadband, is critical for economic development by ensuring the availability of on-line booking, video conferencing and access to knowledge across the world. It is vital to the maintenance of rural businesses, the rural economy and the lifestyle of people in the country. At a time when jobs are being lost, it is important that broadband is available to maintain existing jobs and to provide access to information for students. It is an important communications system in the modern world. It is as important as a road network was in the past. The need is critical.

The initial date for full broadband coverage was the end of 2009. The Minister has postponed that in recent pronouncements and, assuming optimum success, we are still 20 months from complete coverage according to his most optimistic projections.

There are question marks around mobile operators providing broadband services and the speed of those services. The national broadband scheme is welcome but we are not satisfied with the speed of the roll-out of broadband and the extension of the projected dates for full coverage. The maps that exist do not offer an adequate account of the existing situation in many rural areas that lack coverage. Progress to date does not merit the passing of the motion without accepting the amendment.