Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response but, needless to say, it will not fill these project promoters with enthusiasm. I accept that there are other retail players operating in the market, but the view is that Eir fibre is the gold standard. When one works on a project and develops it to the scale of €1 million of State investment, there is a reasonable expectation that the standard of broadband available to it will be the gold standard.

Abbeyshrule is an idyllic village. It is a recent winner in the national Tidy Towns awards. It is a centre for creativity and there are several specialist aviation businesses on its doorstep, operating from the nearby airfield. Enterprise and innovation are eager bedfellows in that part of the country. I pay tribute to the local committee which has worked so hard on this issue, as well as Councillor Mick Cahill, a local county councillor who has helped to advance this project thus far. Their frustration at this turn of events is palpable. It is inconceivable that a company blessed with such a large and lucrative national contract could be so dismissive and unco-operative.

The House will be well aware that this is not the first time we have heard criticism of Eir in recent months. It has been challenged on billing issues and customer service and, increasingly, it is being challenged on its ability to deliver the roll-out of broadband. This latest saga certainly does not bode well. If my premises was flagged amber or worse in terms of the roll-out plan for County Longford, I would be seriously concerned about the ability and eagerness of Eir to ever deliver fibre to my home. We need to hear that Eir will provide whatever infrastructure is required to make this project work as, otherwise, it is a credibility issue for the company and its willingness and eagerness to deliver broadband to rural Ireland.

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