Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the State's intention to invest half a billion euro in direct state aid. A recent World Bank study of 120 counties found that for every increase of ten percentage points in the penetration of broadband, there is an increase of 1.3% in economic growth. Given that the private sector organisation that has earmarked provision for the Wellingtonbridge area is at least two years away from doing so, does this not mean that the European Union breaks its own rules sometimes? It bends over backwards to guarantee the maximum opportunity for private investors, sometimes at the cost of the people. It would be fine were the private sector in a position to do it straight away, but given that it cannot, does the Minister agree there is a strong argument that the European Union is fighting against economic growth by not allowing the State to invest in what is really important for rural areas and would help them to contribute to economic growth? Moreover, this undoubtedly would lead to greater employment in rural areas.

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