Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. The concern is that there has been slippage in the timeline for the procurement process. It was supposed to happen during the term of the previous Government in the Thirty-first Dáil. It is not the Minister's fault that it did not happen but his party came into office and this was to happen in the first six months of the Government's term of office. It was delayed, and postponed until this year and it is now delayed until further on in the year. People in the industry say it will be well into next year before the procurement is sorted out. That is of major concern because broadband connectivity is essential for businesses and jobs in rural Ireland. In saying rural Ireland, I am also referring to small towns and villages such as Ballyfin, Ballinakill, Rathdowney, Mountrath and Borris-in-Ossory and in south Kildare, places like Monasterevin, Kildangan and Kilberry. Those areas are in bad need of broadband services. The concern is that there will be not only a delay in the procurement but also in the roll-out of the broadband. Can the Minister give a timeline for that?

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