Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

——including slow or latent problems, in some of the schools referred to by the Deputy. However, technology is developing and we are determined to continue to push for the highest possible standard within the available support schemes.

I refer to the 12,000 houses which may be in electoral districts that cannot be covered by the NBS due to market distortion factors that would come into play. We contacted the European Union in respect of a stimulus package which provides for the development of rural broadband schemes as part of the agriculture and rural development programme. We seek to put in place a scheme to provide services largely by satellite. However, we will not rule out other technological solutions for those houses and our intention is that no house is left behind.

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