Broadband roll-out - Failure must be rectified

YOU could be forgiven for believing that Ireland was at the forefront of internet technology.

All the talk in official circles of e-learning, e-commerce and e-Government creates the impression that nobody is more than a mouse-click away from all the information, advice and services they need.

But figures from the Central Statistics Office paint a different picture. Less than half of Irish households have broadband — a connection rate that puts us on a par with Lithuania, marginally above Latvia and well behind most of our other EU neighbours.

Most of those homes that are connected are concentrated in urban areas. The Government’s own calculations conclude that, geographically, broadband only reaches 25% of the country. At a time when we’re supposed to be encouraging more balanced regional development, when it is essential that we provide infrastructure for start-up businesses and when we are duty-bound to give children every educational advantage, the National Broadband Scheme must be progressed without delay. As it stands, the record shows we have failed to meet the challenges of the digital age.