John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue on the Adjournment. While I am disappointed the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources could not be present, I expect the Minister of State, Deputy O'Malley, to respond equally well.

The matter I wish to raise is broadband roll-out in the south-east region. I was surprised to read last Thursday in the national media that the roll-out of broadband in the south-east was in doubt. I was also surprised to read the comments of Mr. Don O'Sullivan, contracts director of the Construction Industry Federation, who also expressed doubts as to the likelihood of the roll-out of broadband in the south-east and other regions taking place on time.

The reports suggested that the Government's stated target, before and after the general election, of achieving the roll-out in 19 regions across the country would not be achieved on schedule. This flies in the face of the recently launched national spatial strategy which clearly states the broadband network is essential as an enabler of economic activity in a range of areas.

The roll-out in the south-east region, including the cities of Waterford and Kilkenny and the towns of Clonmel, Dungarvan, Wexford and Carlow, is particularly important in the light of the recent report placed before the membership of the South-East Regional Authority two weeks ago by Mr. Eoin O'Leary of UCC. He showed projections and analyses of figures which proved the south-east was lagging behind other regions in the State when it came to economic performance and prospects. That is the reason this is all the more important for the south-east region.