Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I raise this matter to seek a date for the commencement of the provision of fibre-optic broadband infrastructure in County Kerry, specifically in Dingle. Public representatives have been heard complaining all the time that the IDA is not inviting potential foreign direct investors to Kerry or having site meetings there to attract foreign direct investment. The reason, which I can understand, is that we do not have the broadband services necessary for them to invest in an area such as County Kerry. There is no question about that. Over recent years, perhaps two or three visits have been organised by the IDA.

I was in Dingle recently and the case for broadband provision was made to me very passionately. Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Sacred Heart University in the United States, University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Tralee on the setting up of a faculty of Sacred Heart University in Dingle, the latter has purchased the Christian Brothers school in the town and intends to develop it with a view to running semesters in marine biology or marine science. The authorities applied for broadband services. Private suppliers are wiping out all the urban areas, leaving the State to take up the slack and provide broadband to the remaining rural areas. In effect, it is similar to the approach to rural electrification 50 or 60 years ago. It is ironic that the Black Valley in County Kerry was the last place in Ireland to get electricity. I would hate to believe it would be the last to get broadband.

Let me return to my query on the provision of broadband to the university faculty that is to be run from Dingle.

It was asked by a private provider for €36,000 up front and €16,000 per annum rental after that. The provision of broadband is one matter, but provision of affordable broadband is important as well. While contracts may be signed with private providers, the more subscribers who buy into it and take up broadband, the cheaper it will be.

Following inquiries, I also understand that the Commission for Communications Regulation, CER, cannot determine the retail price of broadband. It can only decide the wholesale price of the provision of broadband. That is what I stated on local radio recently in trying to enthuse consumers and get them going - the more consumers sign up for this service, the cheaper it will be for them. For this institution to be set up with broadband, however, it would cost €36,000 up front and €16,000 per annum rental. That is not affordable.

There is another aspect that must be highlighted in this regard. There was a technological company in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht that could not get broadband and moved to Baile Bhúirne. That technology company - a type of company that is badly needed in such rural areas - moved to Baile Bhúirne, another Gaeltacht area, to set up, extend and develop its business because we did not have broadband.