Ms Katherine Licken:

I do not disagree with the Deputy. The service in Cahersiveen has been upgraded and it is great, but if one lives just outside Cahersiveen it is no good to one. We are critically aware of this, which is why we have a national broadband plan to address all of these issues.

The announcement in April was not only with regard to just one scheme. Another scheme will follow. The announcement was the first signal of the Government's intent and ambition in the programme by stating it knows for certain it must deal with the 1,100 villages included. It will be much bigger than this. We have already been in touch with the Directorate General for competition and met it with regard to state aid. We expect to obtain state aid approval next year for one scheme for everybody.