Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste. I fully agree. I am a supporter of broadband right around rural Ireland, especially with Covid, given the number of people who are able to work from home. The quicker we can roll it out, the better and if we could roll it out twice as fast I would be in full support of that. I want to be very clear on that.

The Tánaiste said it may go down in price and it is great if it does. The problem at the moment is that there are subcontractors who have basically gone away from it because they could not survive or make money on the rates they were being offered. The surveys done seem to be ludicrous compared to what has already been done with providers each year going back the years where broadband has already been done. There are standards that are needed. There is no point cutting something 3 inches below if we have to go at it again next year. Certain standards are needed to make sure that we only have to go along, say, every five years.

The way this is starting at the moment, I worry about it. This is the beginning of it. Funnily enough, the hedge cutter that goes along is the beginning of putting up the wire that will bring this to every home in the country. If we cannot get that simple bit right, and if we have contractors who are walking off because of the prices involved, there is something seriously wrong.

I will give the Tánaiste the information later. I ask him to talk to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to make sure there is oversight for these people. They are entitled to make a living as well.

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