Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before we move from programme A, I have a few questions. Has the Minister's Department communicated with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources regarding the broadband scheme upgrade that was announced to identify the towns and villages that have technology centres or enterprise parks that require an upgrade as a priority? I have been approached and told that some towns that could do with such an upgrade have missed out. They have businesses ready to develop if they have access to the high speed broadband that they require. Metropolitan area networks, MANs, are available in many towns and villages to provide broadband but they have not gone live. Has the Department been in contact with the same Department to ascertain whether this can happen? It is critical to the regional development strategy that they go live as soon as possible. Has Enet a role to play in this? What efforts are being made to ensure young companies that have the skills to move into the technology area are given the opportunity to get started and to ensure those that are there can grow?