On page 38 of the programme for Government, the Government committed to "deliver on our commitment to bring next generation broadband to every house and business in the country by 2020". It obviously meant "in the State by 2020". That is 17 months away. It has been promised by this Government, the previous Government and the one before that. I heard the Taoiseach giving figures recently. According to the Department, 540,000 households and businesses are still waiting in rural Ireland. Job creation and employment is being held up in rural counties like Laois and Offaly. Commuting distances have increased. In Laois, 11,500 people commute long distances from the county, mainly in this direction, every morning.

The Taoiseach needs to take an interest in the tendering process, in which only one company, enet, is left. It appears to be in serious difficulty. The date for the completion of the process has been postponed repeatedly because it is a legal and logistical nightmare. When will the national broadband plan be signed off and rolled out? This is important for rural Ireland.

We are making great progress on broadband in Ireland.

Not really.

When this Government of Fine Gael, the Independent Alliance and Independents came to office, just over 50% of premises in the country had access to high-speed broadband.

They are commercial contracts.

We are now up to 75% and it will be 80% by the end of the year.

There are none in Roscommon.

At least 400,000 premises have been connected to high-speed broadband in the past two years. I appreciate that if someone is among the 20% or so who do not have it-----

It is more than 60%.

-----that is no good to them. This is where we need further Government intervention and it is our expectation that the contract to provide broadband to the last 500,000 or so premises will be signed this autumn.