Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The national broadband plan faces further delays, with regional authorities being informed that construction work may not begin until the middle of next year. This is a matter included in the programme for Government. Executives in rural development authorities have been told by officials in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment that shovels are not likely to be in the ground in the first three months of 2018. In fact, they think it will be the summer or the autumn before work commences. They are now saying 540,000 rural houses and businesses will not receive broadband next year. That is what is being reported in today's edition of the Irish Independentand I thank the newspaper for setting it out. It is important factual information which we did not have until now. I ask the Taoiseach to make a statement, taking into consideration that the national broadband plan is included in the programme for Government.

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