Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It appears it is a case of Dublin has it and to hell with the rest of the country. All this Government cares about is Dublin and the eastern side of the country. Once everyone in these areas has broadband, there is no hurry with the rest of the country; people can wait.

In rural Ireland, landlines are a rarity and mobile coverage is virtually non-existent. There is no coverage on the three roads leading to and from Farranfore airport. Several places around south Kerry, including Cahirciveen, which previously had coverage now have only minimal coverage and households that previously had coverage do not have it anymore.

This Government is rolling out so much that if it was doing anything, every field in Ireland would be covered, but it is not. New technology is coming on stream all of the time. Is the Government up-to-date in that regard? Maybe we could get broadband via satellite or another way quicker, easier and cheaper. Is the Government looking into that? I have previously called in this Chamber for the Government to buy-back Eir because it is critical to the provision of this service. At the rate at which parts of Eir are being sold off, there will be nothing left. Now is the time to make a move and buy back Eir.

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