Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am raising this issue in the context of a new role for community centres, as mentioned by my colleague, Deputy Stanton. For that new role to be put in place, a large number of community centres need to be upgraded, particularly in rural areas where there is no broadband provision. I know of an area where there is no broadband, landline or mobile phone connection, but the local community centre has a hub in place, which is extremely important for that area. Other areas do not have access to a hub for people to work from. In one particular area, where more than 900 primary schoolchildren are in four schools, we are working to try to get a broadband hub into the local community centre, in respect of which the lack of engagement from the local authority surprises me. There is a need to examine the involvement of local authorities in the context of whether they are being proactive enough. We need to consider a new role for community centres, which I think is possible. They will respond to that need. That is the reason we need additional funding.

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