Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on recent figures from the European Commission that less than a quarter of computer users across the EU use cloud computing; if he has had any input into the forthcoming new policy Cloud Computing Strategy for the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39229/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In a recent report, Quantitative Estimates of the Demand for Cloud Computing in Europe and the Likely Barriers to Take-up, prepared for the European Commission, it is stated that “More than half of EU businesses and consumers already use some kind of cloud services …. the majority of EU enterprises already use at least one or more cloud services (64% in the survey sample interviewed for the study) …. (and in their) sample of Internet users, practically all used at least one “free” cloud service”.

It is recognised that consumers generally do not have a clear perception that they are using cloud computing, but they actually do (particularly email services). The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation established a Cloud Computing Implementation Group in 2011 and is currently preparing a report on the actions needed to exploit Cloud Computing opportunities in Ireland. My Department, together with The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has been contributing to the preparation of an Integrated European Cloud Computing Strategy.