Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

That remark deals with the planning system which should show up what is being built if the planning applications being carried through are monitored.

Will the Taoiseach inquire from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources why the MANs system is not in operation, for instance, in my home base of Castlebar? A number of years ago the town was dug up, trenches were dug and ducting was laid but nothing was put in them. Businesses in the area cannot connect to a system.

In parallel with the national broadband scheme, to which the Taoiseach referred, do we have an audit of the areas around the country that will not get a physical connection in the foreseeable future? Parallel to that, can he guarantee that wireless connections will be available to them?

I respect the efforts that are being made to improve broadband access to put us well ahead of Turkey and Mexico, which are just behind us at the moment. Next generation access for the school system is absolutely critical. This was pointed out in the Coveney document. The recommendation was that the Government should invite the private sector to tender for the provision of high speed broadband to all those schools, not only so that young people can communicate around the world but that they are given the opportunity to meet the challenges that other countries are offering their young people. If the Taoiseach, I and everybody else are to be able to continue to set out a platform for the next generation, that is essentially where it will be. In the provision of broadband the schools business is absolutely critical. Next generation access, NGA, should be provided through a tender system from the private sector.

The provision of computers for schools has been a very worthwhile business but it is completely and utterly haphazard. There is no back-up system. If they break down there are no people there to fix them. There are different systems and different computers, some of which work very well but others that have not been used for months. Money was provided for computer rooms but no money was provided for computers. That is an issue the national infrastructure cross-committee could investigate and on which it could make an impact, not just for now but for the future. Schools no longer have walls. The key element of that is NGA for all those young people.

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