Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister appreciates how fundamentally important this matter is, not only to households but to the economic rejuvenation of rural regions and the very survival of small rural businesses. I note that, at the beginning of the month, the Minister gave an interview to the Irish Independentin which he was asked whether we should have a universal service obligation for broadband. In addition, he recently welcomed the launch of the EU Wi-Fi initiative, which means public spaces across the country will get free Wi-Fi hotspots and money will be made available for this. I acknowledge these good and positive developments. The problem is we have been listening to announcements like this for years. I was at many of those talks and we all fought for these services but the situation is now worse. I do not know why the Government laid the duct between Cashel and Mitchelstown because there is nothing in it at the moment but water off the mountains, and there is no mobile service. The national broadband plan has been in the pipeline since 2009, including when Pat Rabbitte was Minister. People are sick of announcements. Students cannot fill out their CAO forms, farmers cannot do their business online and businesses cannot operate and have to move from rural areas. It is not acceptable, as the Minister and I both know.

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