Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the witnesses to discuss what is one of the biggest issues facing communities. Judging by the documentation from the Department, ComReg and everything else, it is a case of "we're working on it". However, there is a crisis out there and the broadband issue is one of the major concerns. The witnesses are quite right in some of the language used. Everybody now requires broadband.

Phase one of the joint venture with the ESB is bringing broadband to the provincial towns. It is coming to a certain level but is not penetrating deeply. I live four miles from the Kerry border and according to the documentation everything is fine in Cahersiveen, in Kerry and everywhere else. It is not. There is a crisis out there - perhaps I am meeting the wrong people. Regarding Eircom, one of the providers contacted ComReg over a complaint for some of the regions in north County Cork recently and there has been no feedback. What happens with a complaint when it comes into ComReg if there is a fault from the service provider? How quickly is that acted upon? How are complaints dealt with? What are the outcomes form those complaints?

There is huge frustration out there. Does the broadband scheme announced in April need to get state-aid approval from the EU? When is that likely to happen? Why was that not put out there back in April regarding waiting for it? With all the plans that exist there is desperate frustration. It is not just me living three and a half hours from here deep in the rural community; some people living only 15 or 20 minutes from O'Connell Street have no broadband coverage. There are people who are running businesses. Farms are now more interactive than any other business in this regard. They are doing a huge amount of their business on line in all aspects of agriculture and they need broadband.

I listened to all the presentations and noted the sincerity. However, the reality is that it is not getting down there to the people who need broadband coverage. They are quite right in pointing out that in the 1950s ESB coverage was the major issue. There are so many plans, roll-outs and initiatives. The service providers - wireless and others - are not getting to the issue. Certain households are paying huge premiums to get wireless access of some type, and they are still not getting a broadband service. The witnesses have their plans and their ideas. I know of a primary school in north County Cork that has no broadband service. Can the witnesses imagine the disadvantage those kids have when they go into the nearest town to secondary school when they do not have the broadband service? There is a huge crisis in this regard. We need to tackle it more seriously.

Regarding complaints to ComReg, I know that people in Banteer contacted it sometime in the middle of July and there has been no correspondence back. What procedure does it follow? Does it contact the providers? They have been promised that they would be upgraded. When will that happen? I could mention many more communities. We have to accept that it is not just deep rural communities far away from here; it includes some communities quite close to it. I have met them all over the country.

Over the past 12 months I have had reason to travel throughout the country and the issue of broadband service was raised everywhere. The Department made an excellent presentation, and I know its aims and ideals, but it simply is not happening. The people I meet are hugely frustrated about broadband services. I ask the witnesses to take this on board and come back to me on it. Will the witnesses clarify the situation with regard to State aid for the scheme announced? When is it likely to happen? Will it be a long time down the line?