Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We could discuss a raft of issues that fall within the remit of the Department but I will focus on broadband and working from home. In recent months, society has changed in ways we could not have possibly imagined. Policymakers would have argued that it was not possible to work in these ways because a raft of barriers was preventing decentralisation and so on. Working from home has worked and is being enabled by broadband. There are two issues with broadband. One relates to the current contract with Eir under which the provision of broadband stops at a particular line, for example, a junction beyond which there may be two, three or four houses. There must be flexibility in that regard. The House discussed this last September or October. The matter was not treated with the urgency that was needed. I could name places in my constituency where extending the coverage of the Eir contract by 150 or 200 yards would take in several more houses. I appeal to the Minister to use his good offices to ensure flexibility in the contract so that people can get a broadband connection because they are getting very frustrated.

The Minister stated he had asked his officials to increase pressure to expedite the roll-out of rural broadband. The events of recent months have shown us that we can be connected and we can all be equally productive, whether we live in north Cork, large urban centres or rural communities. We need to do more than hurry on rural broadband. The issue must be at the centre of government. This is a policy that can change and transform society.

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