Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013
370. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has identified areas throughout the country known to be particularly problematic in respect of access to high-speed broadband; if he has examined a means where these issues can be addressed effectively in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20403/13]
View answerThe Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
During the preparation of Ireland’s National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015. Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.
The Government is also committed in the Plan to investing in areas where high speed services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market. In an important milestone towards delivery of this commitment in the Plan, my Department will over the coming days appoint experts to assist it in the design, planning and procurement of the State-led investment.
A formal national mapping exercise will be undertaken to identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years so as to inform the level of Government interaction that may be required and the areas that need to be targeted for a State-led investment. Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations including stakeholder engagement will be ongoing throughout 2013 with a view to the launch of a procurement process in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, we are committed to increasing the availability of next generation speeds significantly, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
Questions Nos. 371 and 372 answered with Question No. 369.
