Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power. I look forward to debating this issue. It is important we debate broadband, especially in the current economic climate and given that there has been so much doom and gloom, threats and challenges to the Government and the country. We need to start focusing on what is positive. We need to start looking at the smart economy and to consider areas of investment. Despite the expectation of the budget it is my belief, which I have stated in regard to schools infrastructure, that now is the time to invest in infrastructure. We must reboot the economy. This would result in bringing people off dole queues, thereby making a social welfare saving. In terms of taxation revenue and social welfare outputs, each job lost to the economy costs approximately €20,000. We are losing 1,000 jobs per day. The Government needs to show initiative in terms of the smart economy, but also in terms of putting infrastructure in place now so that when the economy picks up we will have sufficient capacity in education and technological infrastructure to deal with that upturn. Hopefully, it will come sooner rather than later.

While the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, with regard to the signing of the contract with the 3 mobile network is welcome, it falls far short of what is required to compete with other countries. This is true in particular for rural areas, as one sees when one teases out the issue and takes a closer look at what comes behind the announcement. We need to view the issue in terms of international standards rather than just take an Irish view. We need to consider it in terms of how we can compete with economies, skills pools and the technological resources of other countries.

Some of the countries considered to have less well developed economies than ours have a much better broadband infrastructure and lower wage costs. As a result, they are taking thousands of call centre and back office business processing jobs from Ireland. We must be mindful of that. A poor broadband infrastructure further diminishes our already slim prospects of attracting foreign direct investment to rural areas, as high speed broadband is considered a basic tool of modern day business. High speed broadband is not just a necessary tool for multinationals or larger factories. We need to remember the small entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural areas. They may only provide a small number of jobs, but if we have enough of those types of businesses, they will deliver sufficient jobs.

My town of Dunmanway lost manufacturing jobs, like many other towns of its size in the greater south Kerry and west Cork area. However, we have tried to get over that. For example, local authorities have provided land banks to small food processing operators. This is an area of activity that might not have been considered significant ten or 15 years ago when we were used to companies offering 300 jobs. However, these days a company such as that which provides ten jobs needs all the support it can get, whether a land bank from the local authority or broadband infrastructure it needs to survive. Small industries such as this and entrepreneurs will not be enticed into rural areas unless we have decent broadband infrastructure.

Some years ago a person of significant international scientific standing from west Cork who worked with several universities made the point that if there was proper broadband infrastructure in Dunmanway, which we now have, he could work from home. His experience could be multiplied. Many people who could have worked from home were, because of inadequate broadband provision, confined to larger population centres and cities. They did not have the option to work from home nor gain the benefits of being able to do so, such as no transport required, fewer CO2 emissions, lower costs because of not having to run a car and fewer demands on road infrastructure. We need to bear in mind that our regional road infrastructure is not great. I am aware we have great primary routes and our motorways have expanded. We now have ring roads, and the M1 and M50 etc. That is good, but in the recesses of west and north Cork and south Kerry, the road infrastructure, while not bad, is not up to national road standards. It is important we give people the opportunity to work from home.

In recent weeks I contacted the Minister on the issue of broadband provision for someone living in the Rossmore area, a village between Dunmanway and Clonakilty, where proper broadband infrastructure is not available. This presents difficulties for the individual in question. I wrote to the Minister about this, but I do not think that because of my representation it will happen immediately. However, it is important the Minister is aware of the situation. If we can cite personal experiences or examples for the Minister, these may help colour the thinking on the issue and illustrate the necessity for proper, decent roll-out of high speed broadband. Access to this is essential, particularly in rural areas.

There is an issue also with regard to rural schools where we have a better chance of delivery of the curriculum if we have proper broadband infrastructure. In that regard, I wish to mention a wonderful occasion on Sherkin Island recently. This relates to broadband provision for schools and the islands off the coast of west Cork, Bere Island, Cape Clear and Sherkin Island. The wonderful occasion on Sherkin Island took place when DIT, in conjunction with Sherkin Island Development Society, presented certificates to people who graduated with a BA in visual design. The Minister for Education and Science was present on the occasion and there was significant media interest. It was wonderful to see the governors of DIT and the Minister perform a graduation ceremony and award BA degrees. This was a tribute to the Department, DIT and the community on Sherkin Island who launched that BA programme approximately five years ago. When heading to the island on the ferry, the last thing one would think would be that people took the boat to the island to be presented with their degrees by the governors of DIT. However, it was a wonderful experience. The ceremony highlighted the importance of broadband infrastructure on the islands. Schools on the islands will be much better able to deliver their curriculum with better infrastructure.

I do not want what I have to say to sound political, but rural Ireland needs the proper roll-out of broadband. We need Government action. The programme is already behind schedule. The contract was due to be signed in July of last year, but it was not signed until January this year. This is a delay of almost a year. We need to get going on the contract and to keep upgrading what we have.