Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

An aspect of this debate which often goes unmentioned is how some urban settlements have poor broadband provision. Some of these urban areas affected are small settlements and others are on the fringes of large settlements. In the Cork South-Central constituency, largely an urban constituency with some hinterland, places like Ballygarvan village, Fountainstown and the outskirts of Douglas have no access to high-speed broadband.

Monkstown village is a good example of the category in which many areas find themselves. On the broadband map, it is included in a dark blue area, meaning it is deemed to be commercially viable for broadband and either broadband is available or there are plans for broadband delivery. When people in Monkstown ask Eir for a status update, they are told Eir’s priority is to deliver to the 300,000 homes as per the company’s commitment to the Government. There is no timescale, however, for the delivery of broadband in Monkstown. We have tried to get clarity for these areas with the local authority broadband officer, Eir and the Department, as well as through parliamentary questions. We still have not a timescale and it is not good enough. The people affected are expecting delivery.

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