Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

We set out the information and it will be made available by my Department. None of those troika projects is co-funded under CLÁR as that is not how that programme works. However, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform prioritises the RAPID areas. When the Deputy sees the list which will be published he will be aware that out of the total, it is significant.

We have done quite an amount of work on broadband for which we had two schemes. A number of metropolitan networks were installed in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta. Last year we announced 12 wireless-based broadband projects for CLÁR areas. We discussed this matter with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources because, wearing my broader rural development hat, I am interested in ensuring rural areas are not left behind in regard to the whole question of rural broadband. We want to see whether the group broadband scheme is the best vehicle to deliver broadband to rural communities. Those discussions are taking place with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Obviously I will not fund projects where there is enough funding. I am also in consultation with the various partners, the regional development agencies, the Western Development Commission, Údarás na Gaeltachta and so on as they have a major role to play in regard to the provision of broadband in rural areas.

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