Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are trying to set up the Atlantic economic corridor to bring balance to it.

The reason we are trying to establish it is to compete with Dublin and Cork. The Deputy is correct. At present jobs, population, the price of housing and transport are very serious problems in Dublin. This is why the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has his plan out for consultation. I hope people such as the Deputy, his party and all interested groups in rural Ireland make submissions to the plan because we must balance what is happening in the country. We must look at the skilled workforce and infrastructural assets we have in the regions. The Deputy is quite correct that broadband is a very important issue. This is why the Ministers, Deputies Humphreys and Naughten, are working very strongly and have made major progress on it. It is why we are working with the local authorities to ensure we are ready to roll out broadband. Without broadband we have serious problem in rural Ireland. When I go to public meetings or meet groups, businesses and people who want to invest in the west of Ireland they speak about broadband and it is a big issue. We need everybody working together including all State agencies. This is why I met them recently. This does not involve just one Department as all State agencies must work together.

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