Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

We must take learnings from every storm and apply them in the round to what we can do better. The Deputy is right that there was huge success. There is merit in her suggestion about community groups being involved because they are critical to connectivity. However, the Minister and I have been clear with the officials in our Department that there must be extensive engagement. Pobal staff are involved, as are the telecom operators and the technology consultants. It is also imperative that representatives of groups for older people are involved because they bring learnings and outcomes back to people and from people. Equally, as the Deputy knows, the replacement of copper networks with fibre is the responsibility of Eir and ComReg and that lies under the remit of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. We have been speaking and engaging with him. To be fair, he is driven by this as well because it is important that we instill security and confidence. Any iteration of the new scheme must take into account technological advancements, even accepting that we have made huge strides with our national broadband strategy, which has proved successful. I will take the Deputy's points back.

See this speech in context