John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the same issue, I refer the Tánaiste to page 46 of A Programme for a Partnership Government. It is worth reading out the paragraph because it shows the abject failure we have had in this area. It reads as follows:

One of the biggest challenges facing rural Ireland is to bridge the digital divide with urban areas. To remedy this situation for at least the next 25 years, we will guarantee the delivery of next - generation broadband to every household and business in the country. No town, village or parish will be left behind under the National Broadband Plan. Once the contract is awarded the rollout phase will begin immediately and, in conjunction with commercial investment, 85% of premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband.

It goes on to state that the targeted date for awarding the contract is June 2017. This is February 2019. When will this broadband contract be signed and rolled out, given it is almost two years later the Government's proposed schedule in A Programme for a Partnership Government?

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