National broadband plan
Deputy Eugene Murphy raised delays and poor broadband coverage affecting families and businesses. The Taoiseach said coverage had improved substantially and that the national broadband contract was down to one final bidder and expected to be signed this year.
I apologise for coming in on the O'Farrell issue. I fully support the family, as I have in the past.
I wish to ask about the commitments made in the programme for Government and in a number of announcements by my constituency colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, to provide broadband. The lack of a proper broadband scheme throughout the country is causing difficulties for communities, small businesses and families. The debate has died, but I do not know why. We need to deal with the issue. Is the Taoiseach able to give me a commitment as to when we will see the roll-out of the national broadband plan?
Comment on this
The Deputy will have to acknowledge that when the Government that includes Fine Gael and Independents took office, just over 50% of premises in the country had access to high-speed broadband.
That is over two thirds and will be at approximately 80% by the end of this year. Much progress is being made. On the national broadband scheme, we are down to one final bidder and that is currently under negotiation. We are confident we will be able to sign that contract this year.