Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Lowry for sharing time. This is an important motion and the more debates, both in and outside the Chamber, on the roll out of broadband, the better. I am open to another debate several months from now to monitor the progress made on broadband roll out.

If a survey had been conducted of Members during the general election, the availability and roll out of broadband services would have emerged as a common theme and the most frequently raised issue on the doorstep.

I have been critical of Eircom in this regard. I have publicly called on the company to improve its performance in broadband roll out on many occasions. So much so, its chief executive officer, at his request, met with me recently. The meeting, along with some of his staff, was informative. While I have been critical of the company, it is taking a proactive policy and offering to engage as much as it can with public representatives from all political parties. I found it had an open-door policy and was helpful.

Recently in the parish of Kildimo, the offices of the community council organised a door-to-door survey asking if parishioners would take up broadband if it became available through Eircom. From this it was able to assess the potential take-up which was then presented to Eircom. On foot of this, Eircom agreed to prioritise the availability of fixed-line broadband in Kildimo.

At our meeting Eircom pointed out other areas of the Limerick West constituency, such as Fedamore, Kilfinane, O'Brien's Bridge, Cappamore, Hospital, Knocklong, Ballylanders and Elton, that will be prioritised on foot of representations made by local community organisers. While we are rightly critical of Eircom, we can work constructively with it to raise its performance level.

Public private partnerships, PPPs, are very much underutilised. Limerick County Council recently introduced a new initiative where it will enter a PPP with a wireless broadband provider to make available water towers in the county as transmission towers. Some 12 wireless providers expressed an interest when the council first advertised the proposal. Some 57 water towers will be made available to the preferred partner, which will have exclusive use of them for 18 months. It is hoped the scheme will provide blanket coverage to the county. Other local authorities could follow suit on the lead taken by Limerick County Council. The Shannon Development Company has been proactive in providing a MAN for Newcastle West.

I will be glad to participate in a debate in nine months to measure the progress that hopefully will be made broadband roll out.

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