Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

One of the major complaints I have received through constituents and across the country has been problems with broadband. Is the Minister aware there are still significant complaints in regard to inability to access it, the cost in some cases, and sometimes technical difficulties? Has he considered looking at the figures to see how effective is the provision across the country because it appears there is a slight disconnect between the reality and the figures and statistics he has given? In relation to MANs, when in opposition the Minister called MANs a spectacular waste of money. Perhaps the Minister would elaborate on his views now, because it appears that what he is talking about in terms of transferring €10 million out of the MANs and into the greenhomes scheme will have a fairly sizeable impact, whether on a multi-annual basis or not. What exactly will be the impact? Given that all politics is local, on the whole issue of enabled exchanges, Eircom has enabled 500 exchanges and have promised 400 more in the next two years — although it keeps changing its timetable — yet, there is a huge disparity across the country. In Wicklow there are 13 while in Donegal there are 30. That does not auger well for my constituents and I am sure other parts of the country have difficulties as well. Perhaps the Minister would comment.

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