Ms Rena Donaghey:

I have been to Sweden and have spoken to politicians there who have outlined exactly how it can be done. The Chairman, Deputy Joe McHugh and Deputy Charlie McConalogue, will be very familiar with a community incentive scheme in which I have been involved in Inishowen, similar to the group water schemes Deputy Thomas Pringle mentioned. This was a community assist scheme, it is part of the Wild Atlantic Way that was not able to accept coaches or larger buses. I initiated a scheme last year where I got public money from Donegal County Council and got the community involved with their JCBs, men with shovels and spades, tractor and trailers. We did a terrific job. Some members may be aware of it as Eileen Magnier covered it on RTE News. While I welcome yesterday's announcement, what do I say to the 43,000 people in Inishowen whom I represent as there is nothing in it for them? It is intended that 100,000 houses will be connected each year under this scheme for the next five years up to 2019. Do we in Inishowen have to wait until after that time to get broadband for our area?

The education and training boards invested very heavily last year and will do so again this year on teaching farmers how to do their business on line. I am teaching them how to do it but yet when they go home they cannot do it because they do not have the broadband.