Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy mentioned 2011, which is the year he is interested in. Only 300,000 addresses had high-speed broadband when his party was in office, just before the 2011 election. He can talk about works of fiction all he wants and he can criticise us if he wishes, but the lamentable failure of the Government of which he was a supporter is manifest for all to see. The situation now is that high-speed broadband is available to approximately 1.3 million addresses, and by the end of 2016 it is envisaged that high-speed broadband will be available to 1.6 million addresses. By 2018, we aim to have 85% of the population covered.

There is no need to set up crisis committees, because this work is being expedited by Government, by my Department and by me on a daily basis, ensuring that this critical piece of infrastructure is put in place for the Irish people, and for all of the Irish people, not just those who live in cities and towns where they have access through the commercial sector, but right across the country. It is this Government that will deliver high-speed broadband. It is this Government that will achieve this important piece of infrastructure for the Irish people and it is this Government that will keep to that plan and ensure it happens.

Deputy Alex White: The Deputy raises 2011, which is the year he is interested in. Only 300,000 addresses had high speed broadband when his party was in office, just before the 2011 election. He can talk about works of fiction all he wants, and he can criticise us if he wishes, but the lamentable failure of the Government of which he was a supporter is manifest for all to see, because the situation is now that we have high speed broadband available to approximately 1.3 million addresses and by the end of 2016 it is envisaged that high speed broadband would be available to 1.6 million addresses and by 2018, we hope to have 85% of the population covered. There is no need to set up crisis committees because this work is being expedited by Government, by my Department and by me on a daily basis, ensuring that this critical piece of infrastructure is put in place for the Irish people and for all of the Irish people, not just those who live in cities and towns where they have access through the commercial sector, but right across the country. It is this Government that will deliver high speed broadband. It is this Government that will achieve this important piece of infrastructure for the Irish people, and it is this Government that will keep to this plan and ensure it happens.

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