Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think the point was illustrated earlier in terms of coming from the smallest communities up rather than from the centre out. These initiatives announced yesterday are good for the large regional centres. In my area, towns such as Monaghan and Cavan will get fast broadband in any event, but I am concerned that towns such as Belturbet, Ballybay, Coothill, Castleblayney and Clones will not get high speed broadband if we do not change our approach. It is important that these towns get fast broadband and are not left behind. There are initiatives for the villages but the small towns are being left out and, obviously, the individual units, the individual farms and the individual SMEs in the rural areas are in a predicament. I think Mr. McColgan's approach is correct, we have to change mindsets. If we continue to say it is okay that 50 regional towns are getting new infrastructure, that leaves behind all the other small towns. That is the reality of it.