Dr. Stjohn O'Connor:

The question about indoor versus outdoor coverage is a good one. There is a framework and repeaters are there to solve that problem. I do not know anything about the area. The houses could be new or very old. If they are very old they could have very thick walls which can be a problem for the signal getting through. If they are very new, they are probably extremely well insulated which creates an issue because insulation blocks the signal. ComReg's website has a list of providers of repeaters. They are relatively new but they are available and many companies install them. That would be the first solution and it should work. We install them in BCPs.

On helping companies, it is difficult to respond without knowing specifics. I can address it if the Senator wishes to send me details. I would normally direct people to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications because it actively engages with providers to improve services. There is no stick to compel operators but I am happy to take on board any information.

We have had to refuse communities for BCP applications. It is primarily in cases where what was being offered for the substantial State investment did not balance out. That was only in a small number of cases. The whole idea of BCPs is that it is for community gain and public benefit, therefore they are not approved where opening hours or facilities were not to an appropriate level or there were no plans. The key determinant for us for approving BCPs was whether the applicants had an active community group. If there is an active community group, one knows that they are behind it and things will happen whereas if there is a community group that would like a hub but it has no plans and the facilities are not great, that does not represent a good return on a substantial investment but that has been in a minority of places.

The question on e-health is interesting. We are actively engaging with both the HSE and Department of Health in the area. We have four pilots which we would like to try for different areas of e-health, including a couple of the islands. There are obvious benefits. We have established a group, chaired by one of my team, to look at this very specific idea. The clinicians are very much on board. It is a question of how to roll it out. We were holding back a few BCPs to potentially address what the Senator outlined. I am keen for it to happen. There are obvious benefits and savings to the health sector.

On private versus public hubs, the booking platform which we are putting in place is not restricted to public hubs, it is for everybody. There are AC hubs, private, public, social enterprises, every kind. The tools we make available will be available to all hubs across the country.