Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In the main we will deal with that in some detail when we have NBI in front of us. I remember that debate very clearly because we discussed things like road projects where, for example, if a lane is closed there is a penalty for the duration of the loss. Essentially, it was to keep this on track. During Covid-19 the need became even more obvious. If people are going to relocate to work remotely it is all the more important that there is an availability of broadband throughout the country. Nobody disputed that this project was required. The concern was that it was going to cost a lot of money and there was a question mark over the capability of the people who were awarded the contract to deliver on it.

I take some issue with what has been said by the Secretary General. The figure quoted was 4,000 and it was stated it should be 12,000. It was supposed to be 20,000. What were the milestones? It is an improvement on 4,000, but if NBI does not meet the target will there be slippage in terms of an accelerated programme? That is one of the questions we can put to NBI on 14 October.