Communications, Marine & Natural Resources Minister Dermot Ahern is considering a levy on telecoms companies to fund the provision of broadband connections to schools, libraries and community learning centres.
Speaking in the Estonian capital Tallinn, he said he planned to meet senior figures in the telecoms industry to outline his proposals, adding that broadband connectivity was 'critical' to the country's future.
Minister Ahern said it should be possible to provide links to all schools for less than €30m a year. He acknowledged that telecoms companies had misgivings about his proposals, but said they would benefit in the long term as the move would stimulate the development of broadband applications.
