Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this important motion and amendment on broadband. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Power, to the House. The last two speakers have put their finger on the pulse, when they outlined the problems with rural areas, small industries and with working from home. The Minister has a great grasp of what is happening and what needs to be done, but it seems he is not in a position to carry it forward.

The statistics before us show that 40% of the population live in rural areas. Senator O'Toole is 15 miles from the centre of the capital city and I am astonished to think that he cannot get access to broadband. I thought I was bad enough being three and a half miles from the centre of the largest town in the third largest county in the country, which is Castlebar. I can only get mobile broadband access, but as other speakers have pointed out, this breaks down and is slow. If I was running a small business from home, it would not be adequate. Senator Ross is quite right. If we are to progress as a nation that will be flexible with our workforce, then we must provide broadband access to everybody. While the Minister means well and has a great grasp of things, he must make a commitment to roll out broadband to everybody across the country. It is our future and is as important as education, roads and industry. Everybody recognises that, including the Minister, but he is doing little about it.

Senator Ross stated there have been certain improvements in responses in the last couple of years, but the service has still not been rolled out and it is not there. Where do we go from here? I was astonished to hear that copper wires with broadband provision were not rolled out 15 miles from the centre of the capital. It will not be easy to develop the west, but broadband is essential. We have no proper road infrastructure from the east to the west, especially in County Mayo. There will be a dual carriageway to Galway sometime in the next 12 or 18 months, but we do not have a fast train to any part of the country.

People working from the home in small businesses in rural areas rightly need broadband, and 100% coverage across the country is essential. I agree with the amendment tabled by my colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, and I agree with the last few speakers on this important issue. Broadband will be the lifeblood of the country in the years to come.