Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Griffin and his team. The Department will be very important in the years ahead.

I will start on the issue of broadband, in particular, the provision of high speed broadband in rural areas for the benefit of the country. I am disappointed to note that only €5.4 million of the €16.8 million allocated in 2016 under subhead A3 was spent. This is surprising considering that the country is crying out for the roll-out of broadband, on which we have report after report. The development of rural areas is being held back by the lack of access to broadband. I ask Mr. Griffin to explain the reason only €5.4 million or one third of the €16.8 million allocated was spent last year, given the need for broadband.