Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is speaking a lot of common sense on this. The Government is going to engage with the local authorities regarding generators for communities. One of the most obvious things we should be doing is making sure there are more generators available in communities for when things like this happen. The Deputy is right that nobody can storm but we have to be better prepared in terms of resilience and infrastructure at that local level. Of course we look at national response, but it is important in any review that we look at the on-the-ground response. The Deputy mentioned the word "community". One of the good things we have seen from this very difficult time is community coming together. I am delighted we have been investing in things like sports capital grants because thank God we now have more GAA clubs and football clubs with showers and changing room facilities that they have put to use for communities at this very difficult time. The Minister for communications, Deputy O'Donovan, who is here beside me, is bringing in all the telecommunication companies next week to specifically engage on a number of those issues. My understanding is the vast majority of NBI customers now have their connection back but we will engage with those companies.

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