Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Areas have already been identified in the amber sections of the national broadband plan maps produced by the Department. This is with regard to 90% of the geographical area but 30% of the population. These are the most peripheral areas. Earlier we spoke about the islands, and several islands down south, such as Sherkin Island, Bere Island and Oileán Chléire, are close to the Deputy's heart. Communities in the most peripheral areas think the further away their area is, the more likely it is to be dealt with last. I have raised this point, and as part of the procurement process we examined whether those areas which are always last could come first. This is the type of creative thinking we need.

We are having a parallel conversation about how to save post offices, and Bobby Kerr who chairs the group has been considering the potential of post offices to become Internet cafes. We cannot have Internet cafes on Tory Island, Sherkin Island or Bere Island if we do not have broadband. We need creative thinking about where to start, but now is the time to have the conversation and feed into the procurement process.

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