Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There are many black spots in County Louth that need urgent attention. It is creating a divide between rural and urban areas. It is also costing small businesses jobs. It is stopping people from working from home. Households and businesses cannot wait for years. Several people have come to my constituency office saying they cannot continue to survive. I cannot understand why they are not connected to this essential broadband service.

A business family has told me that, according to the national website, they are scheduled for June 2024. In this day and age, they do not think that is very fair. I do not use the words "black spot" lightly. It is 2022 and for these people to wait another two years does not seem fair. I appreciate a lot of work has been done in recent years. In 2007, it was suggested we put in broadband the same way we put in the ESB network. It was not done and people laughed at it. In this day and age, there should be no black spots in County Louth.

See this speech in context