Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

All I know is this - while this is not anecdotal it is not a scientific survey - the number of people living just outside broadband enabled areas who have contacted me advising they need broadband access for their businesses and their daily lives is very high. I know many people get mad at me when I am honest enough to admit this, but I am going to say it again, during the last election, the main issue we heard when canvassing at the doors was not that of post offices but that of broadband connectivity. Straight and simple, broadband was the main issue for people, and that was across the board. It was not as age-specific as one might think but it peaked among the 30 to 45 age group, comprising working parents and so on. What we need to find out is that where there is broadband connectivity how many people use it for their business, part time, full time or for whatever number of hours. People could be asked if they use broadband for their business three hours or 20 hours a week, or full time. We need to get that information. I accept the point Ms Martin made about social interaction.