Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of broadband access following Storm Éowyn. As Members will be aware, tens of thousands were without broadband for weeks following the storm. Indeed, ComReg said at the end of last week that 3,500 remained without access, a month after the storm. Speaking of my county, the impact was particularly felt in Connemara and across north Galway, where thousands remained without access for weeks. The impact this has cannot be overstated. Businesses were unable to take payments. Remote workers were unable to carry out their work at home and had to return to their offices, which for many involved lengthy journeys every day.

The priority right now needs to be addressing with as much speed as possible the needs of the final 3,500 without broadband access, but following that we need to proceed quickly to having a discussion on how to strengthen our infrastructure to ensure this issue does not arise again after another major storm, be it next year, in two years or later. Given the ways in which we now rely on broadband, it is simply unacceptable for thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of homes to be three weeks or more than a month without broadband access. It does considerable damage to our economy and we must take safeguarding measures to prevent this from arising again. I would be grateful if the Leader of the House raised the matter with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and requested him to join us for a debate as soon as possible.