John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their detailed presentations. The context of our request for a presentation is the ending of the rural broadband scheme and the investment promised in this area. We are all aware of the huge increase in demand for broadband services. As public representatives, every day of the week we deal with businesses which are unable to access broadband services. This is preventing businesses from expanding in rural Ireland, particularly in areas that need jobs. The investment has been announced and the larger centres are being catered for in a certain way but we are being told that, from a rural point of view, the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer.

As regards mobile phone coverage, anecdotal evidence based on our own use of phones suggests that it has worsened over the last three or four years. Why has that happened? There has always been blackspots but they appear to have expanded significantly in recent times.

There is no doubt the investment is coming but the problem is that the demand exists now and there is a gap between the present and when the investment will bear fruit. This is an issue on which we need more clarity.