James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's response. According to a report in 2019 by a major phone operator, the creation of regional digital hubs could generate in the region of €312 million for the regional economy and create over 8,400 new jobs across over 1,000 new businesses. I am sure that the Minister will agree that to ensure rural towns and villages, such as those in Cork East, do not disappear there will need to be balanced regional development in the programme for Government. Key broadband infrastructure is vital in this regard. Main streets, including in my own town in Youghal, could benefit from such initiatives.

I would like to give the Minister an indication of the shortfalls that exist. In some of the areas that I canvassed, including in Inch near my own home between Killeagh and Youghal, there are houses that in 2020 still do not have home phone connections, which is hard to believe. I am happy to work with the Minister to address the shortfalls that exist across many rural areas in the constituency.

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