Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think this is very useful. I have done a bit of homework. I was listening in my office to this debate and had read the documentation beforehand. At the end of the day, broadband points and hubs are important but they are complementary to what everybody in my area is looking for from me. They are looking for two things, one of which is mobile phone coverage. There are parts of my area, because it is hilly and mountainy, where there is no mobile phone coverage. The second thing they are looking for is fibre broadband. It is very simple. They want fibre broadband. I have always been a big advocate of fibre, as the Chairman knows. I had him persecuted, as Minister, when there was only 30 MB but, in fairness to him, he delivered and came in with fibre. That was a fundamentally correct decision for the country. I fundamentally believe in fibre going to every premises, without exception, and that is also an integral part of the broadband plan. As far as I am concerned, those are two of the biggest decisions taken since we agreed universal electricity was going to be provided to houses.

The figures on the broadband roll-out are very impressive. Can the details of when the survey and the availability of connections will take place be made available? How often does NBI update the website? The only way we know we know it is coming at the moment is that we see the vans looking at the poles, and then we say we can say, judging by how long the survey takes and how long the build out will take, that we will get it in a year, but that information is not available and if I go onto the website, it will see say such and such a figure or whatever it will say. Could a better real-time update be given on when it will happen?

I fully accept we cannot build out this thing overnight. We all know that. Nevertheless, I think we are getting it from the Claremorris side rather than the Connemara side, even though we live in Connemara, and we are at the tail end of the line. Even if it were done on the Connemara side, we would be at the tail end of the line, and then there is the Clifden area, another area that has been slow for roll-out. I understand the logical reason for this; NBI is working from the centre outwards. It is running a parallel system. Even though it is using the poles, its fibre is totally independent of the Eir fibre. Can NBI give more detail to the customer? The website is useful but it is not giving me where NBI is on the different steps Mr. Hendrick outlined regarding the survey. My understanding is it is surveyed and filled and then there is provision.

I compliment NBI on it. I am not surprised at the uptake. I am surprised by those who are surprised at the uptake, and I do not care what the norm in any other country in the world is. I know rural Ireland. Every young one is on broadband and all the older people are on it too. I can guarantee that. I recall during Covid watching older farmers sitting outside the mart in their vans and cars watching the sale of their cattle online. They got somebody to show them how to get in but they got in and used it. I think that despite all the controversy, unfortunately, a lot of people missed the very good bargain that was available in GAAGO at €59 before Christmas last year for the entire season, but if you availed of that, it was a great way of making sure you got access. I used it big time. It made sure that for the lesser known matches, people had access to the broadband broadcast.

On the issue of the islands, my understanding is the contract-----