Rural People Denied Thousands of Jobs

Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael should hang their heads in shame at their combined failure to deliver broadband to Rural Ireland. Thousands of jobs have been denied to rural people because the infrastructure has not been provided.

The publication of yesterday’s report is not a resolution of the broadband issue. Those of us who want to see the plan delivered have serious questions that the Government still has not answered.

When will the process begin to connect 542,000 and when will it end? Has the progress of the tendering process left the State open to any legal challenge in the future and what is the advice of the Attorney General in this regard?  How much will it cost?  What started at €500,000 now it looks more like €3 billion.

Given that the process has already been marred we need a plan B. We need to at least look at the possibility of semi-state agencies such as the ESB coming on board and we need to examine the use of the metropolitan area network to help deliver broadband. I find it worrying that the Government has only one plan left to deliver what may well not work out.

Now that the report has been published, the Government cannot take a back seat.  That is why we are in the mess we are now, because this Government believes that private, profit driven companies will automatically deliver services for rural Ireland. This is not the case and they know this.

I will continue to apply pressure to the Government to make sure that a plan is adopted and is realistic in its delivery.