Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I tried to have more questions grouped, but I was told the most I could take with the first question was five, or perhaps it was four. I am not sure which.

I agree with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and I know what it is like. I live in an amber area and my daughter is working from home. She has my head turned about the broadband speed. I told her there was not much we could do about it and that we would have to wait. I also told her that there would be a broadband connection point in the local community hall and she would be able to go down there. Mine is just one of many families across the country that cannot get high-speed broadband. This is why we have rolled out the connection points. The Deputy is right, in that remote working will be a game changer in rural Ireland. That is why I am committed to ensuring that we do everything we can to facilitate it.

Deputy Stanton mentioned Cobh. We could raise the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who has responsibility for the roll-out of the national broadband plan, but I would be happy to raise it with my officials as well to determine whether a broadband connection point could be supplied.

Turning to Deputy Murnane O'Connor, if people believe that an area should have a broadband connection point, they should first approach the broadband officer of their local authority, who will make the case to my Department. We want to try to facilitate as many cases as we can. It is important that we provide this service the length and breadth of the country, as it will allow people to go to these hubs and get the vital broadband they need.

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