Mr. Fergal Mulligan:

The Minister for Rural and Community Development would look after the town and village renewal scheme, the platform through which much of the public money is provided to invest in the hubs.

As for getting broadband connectivity, there are two phases to that. All towns and villages have high-speed broadband, whether from Eir, SIRO, Virgin Media or whatever. For towns and villages, therefore, the broadband connectivity is there and it is a matter of getting the right building. That is where the local authority and the broadband officer, be it in Cork, Kerry, Limerick or wherever, come in. They are there to facilitate local people. If they identify a building that would be appropriate for a broadband or digital hub, they should talk to these people in the first instance, and then apply for grants through the local authority under the town and village renewal scheme-----