Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

All the providers have an opportunity to connect the affected houses, but they have not taken it up. This points to the necessity to put in place the broadband plan. Some 25% of the population does not have broadband. If a provider deems it commercial to connect a house if it is not in the relevant area, that is fine, but if it does not do so, the national broadband plan has to connect it. I agree with the Deputy that we need to get on with it, but we must ensure that when we sign the contract, we can hit the road running.

On the rolling out of the services after the contract is signed, all 31 local authority areas will be subject to action at the one time. Therefore, it is not a case of starting in one corner and working towards the other. Deployment will occur in every local authority area.

If the Deputy encounters an issue in a peripheral area, he should contact the broadband officer in the county. That officer could determine the private operators that might be able to provide a service in the area.

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