Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In 2011, the Government's programme for Government, one of the greatest books of fiction ever written, promised to make significant investment in next-generation broadband over the following four years for every home and business and to deliver it to 90% of homes. That has clearly failed on both levels. In the replies to various parliamentary questions the Government has said the network build will start in May 2016 and that it will take three to five years to be completely operative. The Government is kicking the can to 2021. According to one of the replies we got recently, parts of Counties Clare, Cavan, Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Kilkenny, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary will have to wait until 2021 for high-speed broadband. This is one of the issues I have raised consistently on the floor of the House with the Minister, and even at committee level. He is saying the documentation is before the European Commission and all that. It has to be a priority for Government. In 2015, facing into 2016, broadband is one of the basic requirements for living in any part of the State, whether urban or rural. I know the State has built the population growth on the east coast, but forgetting about the other parts of the country is not acceptable and there should be a crisis Cabinet sub-committee set up to deal with the broadband issue, because nothing is happening.

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