Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I urge caution on the private sector and having to row back on them. With a new Government and a Minister with a strong track record in fighting for this, we need to strengthen the NBP and give confidence to people that it will deliver. Those 6,050 households cannot be left behind at the end of the list. The State needs to provide them with what is now an essential service. Communication about this is key. We have had issues whereby broadband technology and infrastructure has gone halfway up a laneway in north County Dublin because they have bundled a number of houses rather than a geographical area. All these factors undermine the confidence in broadband provision, not only in north County Dublin and in Fingal, but throughout the country.

I understand what the Minister is saying about the capacity issues, but we need the State to lead on this. It is his responsibility to improve confidence in the national broadband plan to deliver for north County Dublin and the rest of the country.

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