Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister of State and his officials for coming before the committee. I am very supportive of everything that can be done to support the roll-out of broadband. I want to focus on a few of the points that have been brought up. There have been issues over the years with road-opening licences or ducting for cables that are overground where they should not be.

We have seen mistakes made by different local authorities. In terms of road opening, there is a public cost. Licences are issued but there are no proper inspections or reinstatement by utilities. The public bears the cost in terms of the damage that is done and, ultimately, the council stepping in and fixing the damage later on. Are there any additional safeguards or measures in the regulations to ensure that there will not be a public cost in terms of the road opening licences? Have lessons been learned from past mistakes with other utilities?

The Chairman raised the issue of ducting. Is anything in particular being done to ensure that, in a few years' time when something has been done, there will be no unnecessary visual damage that will prove very difficult or costly to address?