Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In June 2020, then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Richard Bruton, said that "All counties will see premises passed in the first two years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband within the next four". That would be mid-2024. If we talk about 90%, Leitrim County Council has confirmed that more than 90% of Leitrim properties requiring intervention in the national broadband plan will not be connected until 2025 or 2026. I looked at the figures for Sligo and saw that by the end of this year it will be approximately 16% and at the end of 2023 it will be about one third, but for 2025 to 2026, 60% of all premises will still not be connected. I have listened to the debate and I heard the Minister of State saying that people would like broadband tomorrow. He is correct and that is fine, but for 90% of Leitrim and 60% of Sligo it is not tomorrow, it is not the day after tomorrow, it is not the year after tomorrow and it is not the year after the year after tomorrow. That is what businesses and families in those counties are facing.

I understand the Minister of State's intent and I have heard it clearly today. He said that he was examining everything he could do. Will he specify what he is examining that will make a difference to those people who are waiting in Sligo and Leitrim?

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