Ireland ranks19th out of EU 27 in terms of broadband for schools

A new report on internet use published this month by the European Commission shows Ireland is still lagging behind our neighbours in Europe. 

Cllr Keith Martin says that it is very disturbing that these new figures show that Ireland ranks19th out of EU 27 in terms of broadband for schools.

"We should be training our children in internet technology if we are to provide the skilled workforce capable of competing for investment and employment in the future.  It is shameful that the internet is not widely available in all our schools.

"The report shows that in the last five years, the internet has had a big impact on public services across the EU, in particular on education and health. However, Ireland is falling behind in our connectivity in schools and also in health. Broadband penetration in GP practices in Ireland amounts to around 45% as compared to 90% in several EU countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The benefits from e-health include the ability to receive results from laboratories electronically which could have enormous benefit to the patient.

"In terms of internet usage Ireland is only on the EU average. This is a long way from the government's objective in 2002 which committed Ireland to becoming one of the top ten of OECD states for broadband connectivity. 

"The situation is worst in rural west of Ireland were the lack of enabled exchanges means most people living just outside of towns like Westport, Castlebar or Ballina have no access to broadband at all."