Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Over the past few months, certainly with Covid-19, many people are considering living and working in rural Ireland. Many Members in the Houses use the national broadband plan as a political football and now the same people are calling for greater access across the State. They are demanding more connectivity. The broadband operators are seeing 30% more use in broadband. Politicians in this House are using broadband and I do not know how we would have gotten over the Covid-19 crisis only for that huge connectivity. The weather is also helping.

People are demanding greater broadband access across the country. If the Minister does not mind, I will be parochial in asking for an update on the roll-out of the national broadband plan in counties Sligo and Leitrim, as well as a timeline for its completion. Will the Minister furnish me with a statement on this in the coming days? What are the Minister's views on the broadband plan in rural areas such as those I have raised?

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