John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The failure to deliver the national broadband plan is solely a failure of Fine Gael Governments. It dates back to 2011, when Fine Gael was in government and promised to deliver fibre optic broadband to 90% of homes and businesses by 2015. In 2012 Fine Gael promised to deliver high-speed broadband to 100% of homes by 2020. In 2016 Fine Gael again committed to delivery by 2020 and in May of this year, it opportunistically made a further announcement before the local elections. As yet, a contract has not even been signed.

I have some questions for the Minister and I would appreciate straight answers. When will this contract be signed? When will the roll-out of this infrastructure commence? When can we tell the people of rural Ireland they will have their long-awaited high-speed broadband, which Fine Gael started promising when it came into government in 2011 though nine years later not one single metre of fibre has been rolled out? It is not acceptable. We are asking for very simple answers. Rather than kick the can down the road, I ask the Minister to give me a straight answer. When will the contract be signed or will it ever be signed? Is it just another case of sending the fool a little further? That is what it feels like on my side of the House.

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