Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on the issue. I would have liked to speak yesterday evening on my colleague's welcome and timely motion but it was necessary to allow other speakers to contribute who do not have the opportunity very often to do so. In the last few weeks, Fine Gael and the honourable Minister of the Independent variety have made a right dog's dinner of a couple of issues. The national planning framework is one and the other is this debacle around the provision of broadband and the Government's inability to put every part of the country on a level playing pitch regarding basic infrastructure. It is typical of the attitude of the Government. There is nothing among the Members of the House akin to an urban-rural divide. Far be it from us that it be the case. We believe it is fine to plan for Ireland's cities up to 2040 but not instead of or in neglect of rural Ireland. Rural Ireland and those who do not have access to this basic necessity do not take kindly to being treated as an add-on or second tier of society. Rural Ireland has been an add-on in this instance, however, because, as Deputy Dooley said, we have listened to three Ministers make commitments on the boldest of plans. We have held onto that commitment with the best goodwill based on what the Minister said when the Government took office. It has not materialised, however.

The handling of this procurement has been anything but appropriate. Over the years and even in my office today, I have had many conversations with constituents who do not have access to broadband despite the way we laud the idea of a knowledge economy and notwithstanding the Minister's assertion that, by the end of the year, seven out of ten households and 96% of business parks will have it. I owe it to my constituents, including those who are in touch with me on this on a regular basis, to record the various areas in my constituency which do not have access to high-speed broadband.

These are as follows: Screggan in Tullamore, Tubber, Horseleap, Rhode, Bracknagh, Durrow, Cloghan, Ballycumber, Ballycommon, Lusmagh, Cushina, Walsh Island, Pollagh, Ferbane business park, Coleraine, Kilmalogue, Daingean, Mountlucas, Clonygowan, Clongarrett, Killure, Treascon in Portarlington, Ballyclare, Blue Ball, Shannonbridge, Bellair, Lahinch in Clara, Ballycolgan, Gracefield, Barna, Erry in Clara, Clonsast, Crinkill, Shinrone, Ballycowan, Coolnahiley, Kilmucklin, Kilnabinnia, High Street Belmont, Tinnycross, Clonfanlough, Gloucester, Creevagh, Moneygall, Sharavogue, Killyon, Rath, Croghan, Ballyboy, Kinnitty, Ballinlough and Clareen.

I do not know how many houses are in those townlands and areas. However, I can assure the Minister that when he says to me and those like me not to play politics with this issue, I am afraid that - surprise, surprise - I am a politician and I represent the people in these areas. These people have placed their trust in public representatives and in Ministers who have the privilege to lead Government on this issue. When I go back to these people, I will be saying to them that when they get their opportunity, they can pass judgment on the Government and its commitment in this area. It has failed them. The way they express their sentiment in that regard is that they will not be voting for the Minister or anybody belonging to him, having listened to the commitments he has made and given the ample opportunity he has had to progress this matter. I and others on this side of the House will be putting forward means and methods by which it can be done, sooner rather than later. We will ask those people to trust us and trust our commitment, based on the Minister's failure. I hope I never again have to read the like of what I have read into the record when we are talking about basic services and basic necessities, as the Minister rightly calls them, in this day and age.

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