Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The best place.

Broadband is no longer a luxury but a necessity of life, particularly for students and farmers. The only way farmers can access agricultural grants is online. Many farmers in west Cork do not have broadband, meaning they are unable to apply online.

On paper, the Cork South-West constituency is a great place to live and do business. For small and medium-sized enterprises, it offers close proximity to Cork Airport and two good third level educational facilities.

I know we are discussing broadband tonight but the Minister is also in charge of regulating mobile phone coverage. The lack of these two services is a major drawback for anyone looking to set up a home or business in west Cork.

Even where cable is being laid, there seems to be a lack of consistency. I know of one case at a crossroads where one house is getting the service but the house opposite is not. The cable is not being laid for it for some reason. I have submitted several parliamentary questions to the Minister's Department recently dealing with the roll-out of broadband but I have received generic answers to specific queries and cases. Perhaps the Minister could look into it.

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