Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I said this is a potential game changer and a proper roll-out of this plan for many areas might be the last chance saloon. The Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment said at the end of April that after year ten of the national broadband plan all premises in the intervention areas will have access to high-speed broadband. The Government in its PR said seven years. Is it ten or seven?

The Minister of State spoke about the role of the broadband officers. Some of them are doing excellent jobs. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, and I have a very good officer in our county. However, in response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of State advised that many of them - I believe the figure was 18 - had not responded or co-ordinated their activities with the Department. Has that situation improved? Did the Minister of State follow up with those reports that were outstanding?

When does the Minister of State expect the contract for the national broadband plan to be signed? What are the consequences and penalties for the operator if the operator does not deliver to rural communities, in particular, within a certain timeframe?

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