Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have raised this issue of broadband with successive Ministers. I note the current Minister has an interest in this. He is trying to advance it but progress has been very slow in this regard.

The national broadband plan was first published by the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Pat Rabbitte, in 2012. It is now 2018 and there has been little progress on the broadband plan itself. There is the scheme being rolled out by Eir to capture 288,000 households but in the midlands, there are significant deficits in broadband coverage. In Laois, for example, there are 12,700 households in the amber area that are not being covered under the Eir scheme. In Offaly, there are 12,420 and in Westmeath, there are a further 12,000 plus. Putting all that together, more than 37,000 households in those three midlands counties are in the amber area that will not be covered under the Eir scheme and must wait for the national broadband plan.

My party has raised this time and time again and I have raised my concerns about the route the Government is taking with it. Many, regardless of where they stand on this issue, would privately agree with some of the issues that I have been raising in this regard.

The procurement process was supposed to happen in a fairly efficient manner. In the programme for Government, in which the Government committed to it, states that the Government "will also provide additional exchequer capital, if needed, to deliver on our commitment to bring next generation broadband to every house and business in the country [including Laois, Offaly, Westmeath] by 2020". The date by which we have to get this off the blocks is one year and 11 months away.

The Government further states in the programme for Government that the tender process for awarding the contract is targeted for June 2017. I understand the best-case scenario is we might see it this year. I hope we do. I hope this happens this year.

It is a most serious issue. The areas affected in Laois include: Coolnabacky in Timahoe, the electoral division of Luggacurren, Graiguecullen, Kilcruise, Spink - huge areas out there - Garrymore, Clonaghadoo and Geashill on the Laois-Offaly border, Fisherstown on the canal in the north of the county, Rosenallis and Ballaghmore. Many of those who cannot get broadband are within a stone's throw of the service being provided and they can see Eir rolling out the service.

I am not one to stop progress or to come in just to have a go for the sake of it. I welcome the progress that has been made in Laois and other counties with the Eir scheme. Constituents say they are getting the service and my party welcomes that. I welcome that a total of 5,063 households or premises in Laois will get broadband under the Eir scheme but there are still 12,721 left that will not. I reiterate that in Offaly and Westmeath, there are 12,420 and 12,019 householders, respectively, who will not get it under the Eir scheme and will have to wait for the national broadband scheme.

This is affecting jobs, farmers, students and small businesses. I have dealt with countless cases of people coming to me who are trying to run small businesses in rural areas.

We must try to get this moving this year. It must be prioritised. We talk about rural development. There will be no rural development if we do not have the infrastructure.

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