Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. My question is on those locations the market will never enter without State subvention. The State should intervene in these peripheral areas first. In a reply to an earlier question, the Minister of State mentioned the islands and other areas where there is no hope the market will intervene, and these should be the first priority. As technology develops and better systems become available, those areas where the market can make a viable intervention will become less clear and predictable. To achieve value for money and sensible broadband roll-out to rural areas, the plan should start where the market is least likely to go and meet the market halfway. This would be a sensible approach.

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