Mr. Ciarán Ó hÓbáin:

I know the Deputy has long experience and knowledge of infrastructure development in remote areas. We certainly will consider his comments. However, the principle of the contract is that the standard of service for people on the islands, and the key performance indicators, KPIs, that would apply in terms of the service, is the same standard that applies on the mainland. There will be no difference. The contract requires the same level of service to every premises in the intervention area. Nevertheless, the Deputy has raised a practical point and we will certainly consider it.

I want to make a quick comment on BCPs. Nobody should interpret the presence of a BCP close to their location as an indication that broadband is not coming to their area until the last year or two of the roll-out. The decision that had to be made around BCPs was more about whether, if broadband was coming very imminently, would it better to invest six or 12 months upfront. All of the locations were chosen by the local authorities, in consultation with the Department of Rural and Community Development, as being very important locations. The fact there is a BCP should not be read into as meaning that broadband is not coming to that location until the final year of the project.