Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government's national broadband plan, NBP, will ensure that high-speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland through a combination of commercial investment and State intervention.

We have created the conditions in which the commercial sector is now investing €2.5 billion. This accelerated pace of investment is hugely encouraging. It is delivering high-speed broadband to homes and businesses where low speeds would have been the norm only two years ago.

This investment is a huge vote of confidence in our recovering economy. However, despite this substantial progress, the Government is very much aware that large geographical areas of the country - rural areas with widely dispersed populations - will not get reliable high-speed broadband from the private sector. Therefore, the Government has made a commitment to ensure that every home, school and business will have access to high­speed services regardless of where it is located. The national broadband plan will see a State-led intervention provide that access in areas where the commercial sector will not.

In November last, I initiated a public consultation on a national high-speed coverage map, which was produced in line with EU requirements. At the same time, an information pack was sent to every Senator and TD, together with an invitation to a presentation by my Department's NBP team, which took place in the AV room.

The map, which provides detailed information on more than 50,000 townlands in every county, is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. It shows blue areas, where commercial operators will supply high-speed broadband, and amber areas, which will benefit from the State intervention.

The map shows that Dingle in County Kerry will have access to next-generation broadband through commercial investment. Given that the provision of high-speed broadband services to Dingle is to be delivered through private commercial investment, I am not in a position to comment on the precise timing of this programme. However, I understand from recent contacts with the company concerned that it hopes to deliver this during 2015.

I understand that this particular investment will also require significant improvement to the backhaul network between Dingle and Tralee. Given the diverse range of customers that this will benefit and the town's vibrant tourist sector, and all of the cultural pursuits and business requirements to which the Senator correctly referred, I am sure this investment will be very welcome to local residents and businesses.