Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of the strategy to implement a smarter economy if he will document the action taken to implement the strategy and recommendations proposed under the Digital Agenda for Europe which is one of the key pillars of the EU 2020 Strategy; if any planning has taken place to prepare for the allocation of European structural funds for the period 2014-2020 to implement a Digital Agenda for Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27495/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will mention the Digital Agenda for Europe on his Department's website; his plans to elaborate a strategy in the public realm on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27497/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans on the lack of implementation of the Digital Agenda for Europe at national level here; his further views on this failure and his plans to change same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27498/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 to 407, inclusive, together.

The Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) is one of seven flagship initiatives under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The DAE focuses on the 21st century technologies and online services that will enable Europe to boost job creation, promote economic prosperity and improve the daily lives of EU citizens and businesses in a variety of ways. Successful delivery and implementation of the DAE in Ireland is therefore a priority of the Government.

The DAE identifies seven areas for action and flowing from these are some 100 follow up actions for both the Commission and Member States. Many of these actions cut across a number of Government Departments and my Department has taken a lead role in the coordination of reports and briefing on progress on the implementation of the DAE across Government. There is regular contact between the relevant officials in the various Departments and plans relating to the Multi-annual Financial Framework for 2014-2020 form part of these discussions.

Each of the seven areas for action has international dimensions and Ireland's progress in these areas is benchmarked against other countries' performances. Progress is charted by the annual publication, in May each year, of a scoreboard including (i) socio-economic developments based on key performance indicators, selected on the basis of their relevance to the main policy issues, and (ii) an update of progress on the full set of policy actions identified in the DAE. The scoreboard published in May 2011 focused on tracking individual Member State's progress on broadband take up, Internet usage and availability of eGovernment services and found that Ireland is performing reasonably well in respect of each of these areas. The Commission also reported that progress in Ireland on the 101 actions indentified for both the Commission and Member States has been quite good with almost 10% of the actions having been completed, 80% on track and the remaining 10% delayed.

As part of its monitoring of the DAE, the European Commission also undertakes annual visits to Member States. This year's visit to Dublin is scheduled for later this month and will be led by the Head of Cabinet to Vice-President Neelie Kroes, who has special responsibility for the Digital Agenda. The aim of the visit is to increase awareness of the Digital Agenda and to ensure that those with responsibility for its delivery, are aware of what is expected. My officials are currently liaising with the European Commission in preparation for the visit and are making the necessary arrangements, including media coverage of the event. Appropriate links to the EU Commission's DAE website (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/index_en.htm) will be highlighted on my Department's website.