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 Mid West - Unplugged Speaking in the Dáil recently, Deputy Noel Coonan described as ‘really maddening’ Minister Eamon Ryan’s comments that he anticipates an increase in the demand for high speed broadband into the future.
Deputy Coonan asked about progress in creating a ‘one-stop shop’ to which the Minister for Communications said the context for the proposal is ‘the anticipated increase in demand for high speed broadband into the future.’
In response, the North Tipperary Fine Gael TD said:
“In the three years since I have been a Member of the House, I have heard the Minister pontificate about what he is doing in terms of broadband and set targets which he has consistently failed to meet. To hear him say he anticipates a demand for high speed broadband is really maddening, especially if one comes from my region of the mid-west which has a higher than average rate of unemployment. Shannon Development has stated clearly that the most significant barrier to job creation in the mid-west is the lack of a high speed broadband system. It is simply not there. Metropolitan Area Networks have been in the ground and waiting connection for years and it is frustrating for broadband providers and the general public. I would like a time-frame and for the Minister to state when this will happen. He could have given this answer last September. I do not want to listen to the same story from the Minister next September,” said Deputy Coonan.
Ireland is still behind the EU average broadband penetration rate and there is less broadband penetration in rural areas than in urban areas. Ireland’s ranking in the EU’s Broadband Performance Index is 23rd out of 29 countries.
Ireland, is grouped in the fifth and lowest cluster group with Latvia, Hungary, and Estonia. The socio-economic context is more favourable in Ireland than in the other countries, but high prices and low speeds, limit its performance, as a result of weak competition. High prices, low speeds and limited rural coverage, hold back performance for the whole group.
 Natives of Mullinahone, situated near the Tipperary/Kilkenny border, who are starved of a reliable Internet Broadband system, have had their prayers answered, when locals discovered that a local graveyard, approx five miles from the village, can give them access to the World Wide Web.
But business people in the village are still angry that their village is so poorly served, forcing them to travel to Kilbride cemetery to download material from the Internet and to send necessary emails. This situation, plus poor mobile phone coverage has now driven Mullinahone’s business community to raise a petition calling for an improved broadband and mobile phone coverage, to bring them up to date with other areas.
Mullinahone isn’t included in the €223m National Broadband Scheme (NBS) that is rolling out high-speed Internet in rural areas.
The Department of Communications states: “In designing the NBS, which was approved by the EU Commission, the department needed to strike a balance between reaching as many non serviced areas as possible and minimising the impact of the scheme on businesses already providing broadband in rural areas, thus minimising market distortion in accordance with EU state aid rules.”
Now here were the locals blaming our own Irish Government and to be precise the Department of Communications when the European Union are really totally to blame. Sometimes it’s impossible to know just who is in charge of running this little country of ours these days.
Whoever is in charge however, please note that according to a new international study, Ireland’s existing broadband infrastructure will not be able to cope with the arrival of the next generation of Internet applications and services. Researchers at Oxford University looked at the capability of connections in 42 countries, to examine how they are equipped to benefit from services like high definition video and other enhanced content offerings. Of the 42 countries surveyed Ireland’s connection speeds and capacity is ranked only in 33rd place on the global table. The report states that Japan is number one and is the country best equipped to handle the roll-out of any such future services.
Broad band services are good in Thurles Town but areas close to the town such as Log Na Fola and Brittas are still waiting for services to be updated.
Cashel Community School, a County Tipperary school based at Dualla Road in Cashel is named among a list of 78 post-primary schools across the country to receive High-Speed Broadband as part of a new Government initiative. The 100 mpbs Post Primary Schools Project, will deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to second level schools across the country.
Green Party Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, speaking at the launch of this project, at the Digital Hub Learning Studio, stated:
 “Today we are laying the foundations of Ireland‘s new Knowledge Society. Providing our schools with high-speed wireless connectivity opens up a whole new world of learning for our children and our students will be connected to every corner of the globe. We are taking online learning out of the confines of the computer room. In classrooms and corridors, students and teachers will potentially be able to carry out interactive chemistry experiments and access demonstrations and exhibitions from all over the world. A class learning French in Dublin could talk in real time with a class in France. A leaving Cert Physics student will be able to take part in Ivy League lectures and experiments. With this level of connectivity, the opportunities for interaction and collaboration are unlimited. We must equip our students with the skills and creativity they need to thrive in the new digital world we are entering. There is no surer way of preparing them than by bringing the Internet right into their place of learning and allowing them to experiment and interact online. Today’s announcement opens a door to them, to take part in Ireland’s digital future.”
Under the existing Schools Broadband Programme, primary and post-primary schools in Ireland can access a basic level of broadband connectivity. The 100 mpbs Post Primary Schools Project marks the next phase in the Government’s ambition to develop our schools as world-class centres of e-learning and to educate the next generation of knowledge workers and digital entrepreneurs.
Schools have been selected against various criteria including geographical location, and an adequate mix of schools to ensure broad social inclusion. The speeds available are similar to those that are being offered to high-end national and multinational companies that operate in Ireland. They allow for the quick upload and download of material, instant connection to websites, and the increased and varied use of online applications.
This project is the result of co-operation between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Science, the Higher Education Authority, HEAnet and the National Centre for Technology in Education.
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has begun a tender process for broadband service providers. It is expected that numerous service providers will be involved. The tender will be accessible at: www.e-tenders.gov.ie
 Fine Gael Deputy Noel Coonan broadly welcomes the new BT Ireland scheme which greatly assists in narrowing the Digital Divide.
Deputy Coonan is urging registered charitable organisations throughout North Tipperary to avail of a new BT Ireland award scheme where such organisations can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband Internet connection.
Deputy Coonan, Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, said the application is open to organisations working in any field of community benefit that can portray how an award would benefit their group.
The Deputy speaking to Thurles.Info stated:
“This initiative aims to narrow the digital divide in local communities and give more equal opportunities. Organisations will be given the chance to access new information and advance their operations thanks to this scheme. BT Ireland will be empowering local groups and I warmly welcome the scheme as the need for efficient broadband availability increases daily.”
The scheme runs over an 18 month period, with two rounds in June 2009 and January 2010, offering a total of up to 80 award packages.
BT Ireland in the past have had winners from a diverse range of organisations including cultural dance groups, conservation organisations, mountain rescue teams, family support groups, healthy living clubs, arts and music groups, sports teams and youth groups.
For more information or to apply log on to www.btcommunityconnections.com
Shannon Development recently organised a special business function for Dublin based companies and influential management representatives from the accounting, legal, banking and venture capital sectors. The event was designed to forge new business contacts for the Birr Technology Centre, and Shannon Development’s four other Knowledge Network business and technology parks at Thurles, Tralee, Ennis, and Limerick.
Dr Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, and acclaimed Offaly businessman Ray Leonard from Romaquip Ltd, a company based at Shannon Development’s business park in Birr which won a £45stg million UK contract, were key speakers at the event.
Demonstrating to the Dublin business audience that it is possible to work locally in the Shannon Region and still operate globally, Dr Cunnane said:
“Shannon Development’s knowledge network of five business and technology parks in Birr, Limerick, Tralee, Ennis, and Thurles are a vibrant and growing cluster. In 2008 over 20 new companies established businesses at our knowledge network, which employs over 3,000 people. These locations offer a great quality of life, access to third level research and development facilities and a pool of highly skilled graduates, as well as world class business infrastructure and facilities. We made a conscious decision to promote our knowledge network business locations and we are delighted with the response we have received.”
Romaquip Ltd located at Shannon Development’s Syngefield Business Park in Birr Co Offaly, is a manufacturer and supplier of road maintenance equipment, including salt spreaders, snowploughs to Ireland, the UK and continental European markets. They hit the headlines last year as one of two companies that secured a £45stg million contract to supply a new fleet of winter service vehicles to the UK Highways Agency – the largest contract ever awarded by the agency.
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