Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the work that has been done to bring the scheme to fruition, especially in rural areas such as those in Donegal that did not have broadband. Why should someone in a city have the service available when someone in a rural area does not? Equality of provision is important. I welcome the steps taken by the Government to achieve that.

In his address the Minister referred to the challenges not only in rolling out the national broadband scheme to 1,028 electoral divisions throughout the country. Obviously that is a challenge but it is one that is being met in a planned, constructive manner. I have every belief that the investment of €225 million will be delivered upon. In 2002 or 2003 fewer than 4,000 customers in the country were able to avail of broadband but today approximately 1.2 million customers are availing of broadband. That is a huge advance in a short time. The Minister highlighted the ways those advances have been achieved.