Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On page 46 of the programme for Government is a recognition that one of the biggest challenges facing rural Ireland is bridging the digital divide with urban areas. As such, it sets out the national broadband plan and identifies that a tendering process is under way which will be completed with the signing of a contract in June 2017. That has not happened. I have posed numerous questions to the Minister concerned but have been unable to get any kind of indicative timeframe for the signing of this contract which would give some clarity to the approximately 540,000 premises that are to be covered under the national broadband plan. There are some small businesses included in that number too. What we need is a timeframe and a plan that sets out the Government's intentions in this regard.

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