State-owned broadband unused by Government

LESS than 1% of Government business carried out on the internet makes use of the State-owned broadband infrastructure, it emerged yesterday.

Despite some €120 million of taxpayers’ money being spent to date on the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) — a nationwide web of internet hubs to bring broadband to the regions — the Government still uses Eircom for 90% of its online activity.

Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn, who chairs the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resource, questioned why the State-owned asset was not being used.

Just 0.2% of Government business on the internet goes through its own broadband facility, he said.

A private company, E-net, which won a tender to manage the regional network, was asked by the committee if it had approached Government departments about using the 27 MANs.

Conal Henry, chief executive officer of the Limerick-based firm, said they had made some contact with the Department of Finance and would welcome more use of the State-owned system by the Government.

Green Party TD Eamon Ryan said the network was making only €3.5m a year, which wasn’t even enough to cover the interest on the investment.

Mr Henry insisted the scheme needed to be looked at over a 10 or 20-year period, to properly gauge its success financially.

In the meantime, he claimed that inward investment was a direct result of the State-owned network.

“There is a huge change in what is happening in Ireland, in terms of price and the range of products and services available,” he said.

Mr Henry said problems remained in the roll-out of broadband and urged more Government investment.