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

There are a number of issues relating to this. The Minister expects to proceed to formal procurement by the end of the year, which is in two weeks, so is he fully confident that this will happen or is he 90% confident of it happening? The concern that people have relating to broadband around the country is that it is being promised but it looks like it will be 2021 before high-speed broadband will be available in a number of counties, including Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Kilkenny, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and parts of Cork.

Representatives of Eir, which used to be Eircom, have recently indicated that the commitment it had for 300,000 homes and businesses to be connected can no longer be fulfilled. Has the Minister taken this into account? He has stated across the floor and in committee rooms that his Department is working as hard as possible on this. There is much concern in the places that do not have broadband as there does not seem to be an absolute commitment to get this over the line once and for all.

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