James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a few brief comments on the joint committee's favourite topic of broadband. In a political sense, the ploughing championships did some good, in that all members are more alert to and aware of the issues facing rural Ireland than may have been the case previously. In common with many members, I attended the championships yesterday but while speaking to various providers at different stands, one point that struck me about broadband in particular about which I had not been aware previously was on its transformative power. All members are aware of how high-speed Internet access transforms small businesses and education but a number of farmers were talking about broadband and why it is so important in rural areas in particular. In the case of a farmer who might be attempting to do another job, to make ends meet elsewhere or to look after a family or meet other commitments, a new technology might enable the deployment of cameras in the field to monitor animals and to keep an eye on what was happening around the farm. This would be in contrast to the days of old and of being obliged to drive around on a quad bike or to walk across fields and all the rest at 6 a.m. or at 10 p.m. It is a kind of transformative social experience that changes how people live their lives. As for the financial struggle seemingly affecting all farmers, the practicalities of trying to participate in the workplace elsewhere while being able to keep an eye on the farm offer a real practical problem that high-speed broadband availability can try to solve.

I refer to an issue of which I had been vaguely aware but of which, on foot of some conversations at the championships, I have become more aware. I understand the implementation of fibre to the cabinet technology is under way in some cases already and it will bring high-speed broadband to many areas, including many rural locations, some of which are fairly isolated. However, this introduces another divide concerning those who are not on the particular stretch of line through which the fibre to the cabinet technology is running. While it is bad enough not having it, it certainly is as bad, if not worse, if one's neighbour does have it. This will create a kind of digital divide between rural and rural, rather than between urban and rural. While I am sure everyone present is aware of this point, I wish to stress it. The introduction of fibre to home technology obviously gets to the next stage and begins to address this issue.

Given the dates under discussion, my understanding is that it is expected the tender will be awarded in April or May 2017. Without going into detail in this regard, I understand that procurement and tendering processes, etc., are in play. However, to state the obvious, I note that the sooner the tender is awarded, the sooner the job can be started and the sooner we can get on with it, although I believe it will take a couple of years beyond the target. I again stress this was another view, of which I had not been aware previously, regarding rural communities and how immediate benefits to quality and standard of life and to how people live their lives can be achieved, as well as the obvious and often-stated small business and educational needs and all the rest of it in rural Ireland.