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

Perhaps the Deputy has extra information, anecdotal or otherwise, on the Australian experience. I do not doubt that my officials have done their research and examined the best possible solution. I know that under the SIRO solution in towns, houses are being connected in Cavan at the moment. There are plans for large towns like Castlebar, Westport and Letterkenny. The Deputy is correct when he alludes to the age-old core-periphery argument about whether services should always go into more populated areas in the first instance and what happens rural areas in such circumstances. No decision has yet been made on how this will be rolled out in the 30% of areas that are de facto rural areas. That decision will probably be made in co-operation between the Department and whoever the preferred bidder or bidders, or successful company or companies, will be. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan raised issues relating to the importance of the islands. These are big questions that keep being raised. As a Sligo man who also represents a large rural population in County Leitrim, Deputy Colreavy wants to ensure there is equity and balance. I take his points.

See this speech in context