Written answers

Thursday, 10 March 2005

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

4:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Ireland's position in the European league in regard to availability of broadband; the extent to which this situation has improved or is likely to improve in the foreseeable future with particular reference to the need to achieve targets set by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8458/05]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent figures from the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, indicate that there are now in excess of 130,000 broadband consumers, which is almost 9% market penetration. This is up from around 1,000 in March 2003.

The latest figures also show that 40% of Irish homes have a personal computer, compared with the EU-15 average of 45%, and 40% of Irish homes have access to the Internet. By the end of March 2005 Eircom expects to have over 80% population coverage for DSL, and the company aims to have 90% of their lines DSL enabled by March 2006.

In terms of achieving higher levels at broadband penetration in Ireland, the latest figures shown on the website www.internetworldstats.com show 1.3 million Internet users in Ireland, or 32.8% of the population, an increase of 68% in the years 2000 to 2005. The penetration figure for the 25 EU countries is given as 44.8%. The signs are encouraging. I believe that the industry target should be 500,000 broadband customers by 2007. That represents more than one third of the telecommunications market.

The Government target is to be in the top half of EU countries by the end of 2007. That means a market penetration rate in the region of 14%, which is, in my opinion, easily achievable.

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