Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his response. I accept that the plan is to cover 70% of the population but that is about 13% of this country's land mass and that leaves a huge number of people, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, without a decent broadband service. Currently, only about 66% of people in the Border region have access to the Internet whereas the national figure is more than 80%. There is already a significant differential in that regard. Would the Minister not agree that compounding that problem is the backhaul speeds from the regions in terms of Internet access?

Why was a recommendation not made on the five State owned fibre cable networks that should be brought together under the control of one semi-State body to wholesale fibre capacity for the country as a whole? Why did this group bottle that particular recommendation and refer to establishing a one stop shop? Why is EirGrid now planning to roll out electricity network high tension cable across the country but not include broadband fibre as part of that to ensure the peripheral regions have access? Will the Minister not agree that without the broadband fibre infrastructure being put in place those communities will never have the high speed access enjoyed by their relatives in urban centres?

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