Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I come from Carlow, where 8,000 homes will be connected over a period and there will be €32 million in investment. People say we are an hour from Dublin but as I have regularly seen, one can sit in a car for over two and half hours to get to Dublin even coming here to work every day. It applies to many people. It is very important that this service can be up and running as soon as possible so people can get the opportunity to use it. I welcome the Minister's comments on IDA investment into rural Ireland getting more jobs into that area. Has the Department had any conversations with IDA Ireland on the fast-tracking of specific areas for broadband connections, which may help attract businesses to more rural areas?

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