Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue. The availability of broadband is a burning issue in many locations, but in others it is not because broadband coverage can be acquired without difficulty. Many of those who are having difficulty getting broadband are in my constituency in Donegal. People can live close to where broadband is provided but, in reality, they live far away from it. I have raised this issue on a number of occasions and the reason I raise it again is that I am aware the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has outlined a response regarding the variety of platforms that are available on the market. He was speaking about DSL through the telephone network, fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre optic. He accepted that expanding availability across the country was a priority.

He told me last year he was hoping to commence a scheme this year and conclude it in 2011. At that point, he said discussions had begun with the European Council in the first stage of applying for and securing state aid clearance. He said he would progress the project which he believed had the potential to ensure communities across the country got the correct solution for the provision of broadband. I know people who have moved back to Donegal from Dublin or from abroad and they feel pride in coming back home to try to work from there. They are trying to give a boost to their county having been successful in Dublin or abroad and they have decided to raise their families locally because of the better quality of life and so on. However, when they return, they find everything they took for granted in Dublin or abroad is not available and they cannot believe that technology is so far behind in what they would perceive as normal parts of Donegal. The first Adjournment matter addressed foreign direct investment and one of the basic requirements for this is broadband.

I attended a public meeting in Carrigans last night about post office services. The issue of telephone coverage for the Garda came up in the context of security and implementing secure policing. Broadband is needed in Donegal for a number of different reasons. I have concentrated on the case for business but there are social and security elements to this issue in the context of communications coverage. If we are to deliver business opportunities and enable all age groups in the community to utilise fully the potential of the Internet, it is important that solutions are sought that will cover all areas without broadband.

BT is supposed to have covered 99% or 100% of Northern Ireland but it is as important to cover the remaining 1% of the population as the other 99% that has a service. The Minister of State will accept the tenor of my contribution as he has responsibility for enterprise and employment and, therefore, he understands how important is broadband. I am seeking an update on whether the Minister charged with that responsibility has been able to secure State aid clearance. If so, where stands the project he proposed for 2010-11? Will we get a guarantee that the needs of Donegal and elsewhere will be met? If so, how? Will this be done through Leader? What mechanism will be used to deliver this project?