Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the roll-out of broadband, when NBI appeared before us, the information we were given was that under a self-install, it could do the ducting work itself instead of Eir. That would take a year off the roll-out. I accept that this matter is before the courts and I believe that a decision is expected in July. In considering what could be done around the edges, time could be shaved off if NBI was physically able to perform a self-install. There could be added benefits, for example, fast-forwarding the work on gap intervention areas.

A major issue that the Minister is probably aware of is that people in rural areas, some urban areas and some near-urban areas are looking over the ditch at their neighbours who have fibre broadband when they do not have it themselves. In many cases, the roll-out for them is three or four years down the road. From our deliberations with NBI, self-install would not be a total game changer, but it could take a year off the time and we could look forward to 2025 instead of 2026. Some people have spoken about the roll-out taking seven years. We are nearly two years into the contract, so there are four years left, but we could reduce that to 2023. If the bulk of the roll-out was completed by 2025, it would be phenomenal and make a real difference. Will the Minister keep an eye on this matter?