Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with all the points made by the Deputy. He sets out the disadvantage experienced by areas of the country in the absence of adequate and high-speed broadband, particularly with regard to business and access to public and social services, as well as education and ability to interact culturally. All of these are areas of activity and interaction in a modern society and economy to which people should have a right. He is absolutely right in his comments about Kerry, as there are areas of the county that will be required to be dealt with through the State intervention. Other Deputies in the House and in the wider building could make the same case for their county, which is fair. That is why we are doing this as one big State intervention, which is going to procurement at the end of this year, as I have indicated. It is a State project. People sometimes criticise the State or the Government for not being willing to intervene and make an investment. We have said in a robust way that we will make this investment and solve this problem by intervening where the commercial sector will not.

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