Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House, of which he is a former Member. This is my first opportunity in an official capacity as Senator to address him. It is a nice coincidence that Senator Ormonde, who is also a proud Waterford person, is in the Chair. As we all know, we have to punch above our weight when we are up here in Dublin in the Oireachtas.

The issue I raise, the roll-out of broadband in the county towns of Tramore and Dunmore East, is probably close to the Minister's heart. I understand the towns were included in a roll-out programme proposed by the South East Regional Authority to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. My information is that much of the funding allocated to resource the implementation of metropolitan area networks, MANs, in towns such as Tramore and Dunmore East has been diverted by the Minister into the greener homes scheme and other areas.

I seek a realistic timeframe for the delivery of broadband to Tramore and Dunmore East. As the Minister is aware, the former has the largest population of any town in County Waterford. Between the 2002 and 2006 censuses, its population increased from 8,100 to 9,100. Dungarvan, the official county town of Waterford, which has a population of only 7,800, has a metropolitan area network in place and ready for connection to a high speed broadband network. The population of Dunmore East has also grown rapidly and currently stands at almost 1,600. The Minister knows that broadband is essential infrastructure, on a par with electricity, water and sewerage. It is vital to have a high speed broadband network in place to give people access to educational and business initiatives and general information. Areas without access to a high speed broadband service are at a disadvantage.

The Fine Gael Party has a progressive policy to introduce a practical programme to deliver broadband to all towns and counties. I am interested to hear the Minister's response and thank him for coming to the House to hear my contribution.