Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, for attending and for briefing us on the regulations. Having spoken in the Dáil last night at length about the potential threat of loss of revenue to Longford County Council, both in terms of the local property tax, LPT, and from rates following the closure of the power station in Lanesborough, I am not one to agree with a reduction in revenue for a local authority. However, it is imperative we press ahead with the regulations. The national broadband plan is probably one of the most important projects for rural Ireland and that came to the fore throughout Covid.

The regulations proposed by the Minister of State are very practical. It is fair to say we have seen a ropey start to the national broadband plan. As a Government we need to do everything possible to remove any potential impediments that can delay the roll-out of the plan. Rural Ireland and many large provincial towns and parts of cities are very dependent on the rapid roll-out of broadband. We have pressed for this since coming to Government to ensure a rapid escalation in the roll-out of broadband. I am concerned the plan is likely to be well short of the 115,000 connection targets for this year. That is regrettable, but measures such as those outlined by the Minister of State are a step in the right direction. We must take action where we can to ensure the plan works. I am happy to support the regulations.