Mr. John Finnegan:

In order to ensure I understand correctly, the Deputy is saying that people on the islands have the same needs everybody in the country has. There is a need for data connection or broadband, call it what you will, and there is a need for water and reliable electricity connections, not just for exporting renewables but for a reliable supply. At present, these are dealt with in the same way as everybody else in a sense. There is a national broadband scheme and a national water utility regulated by the CRU. ESB Networks and EirGrid are responsible for providing a secure supply of electricity to the islands, as they are everywhere else and, again, they are regulated by CRU in that.

The Deputy made the very interesting suggestion, given the particularities of the islands, that we should liaise with the relevant Department with responsibility for the islands to see if special interventions are needed. I am not aware whether there have been some contacts. I will certainly check. If there have not been any, that is a suggestion we will definitely take to see if there are special cases for the islands and special funding available.