Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Lowry again for raising this issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, has been here to hear his comments directly, and he and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, will continue to keep Deputy Lowry updated on this. As I said, I cannot comment on an individual company, for obvious reasons. There is a regulatory process and engagement with the Department and ComReg. As Taoiseach, however, I want to make sure that rural areas do not lose connectivity. We are all trying to move forward with the roll-out of the national broadband plan to make sure that connectivity is brought to every part of this country, most particularly rural and regional Ireland.

County Tipperary is getting an investment of €118 million under the national broadband plan. In total, 31,000 premises in the county will be connected. Over 17,000 of those premises can already order. As recently as last Friday, we saw 3,000 homes, farms and businesses in Cahir become ready to order, in areas such as Ardfinnan, Clogheen and Burncourt. It is now also live in places such as Tipperary town, Clonmel, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel and Nenagh. In the county the Deputy represents, therefore, the vast majority of homes and businesses to be served are now either ready to order or under construction. Some 57% of the premises due to be served by the national broadband plan are ready to order now, and 27% are under construction. However, I take the point he makes about the interim and the disruption, and we will continue to engage on that.

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