My question to the Taoiseach is also about broadband. While I accept what he has said about the plan for the future, in my constituency 52% of households are awaiting the roll-out of the national broadband plan. This is affecting businesses and farmers who have to make applications online. It is a real problem for the Roscommon-Galway constituency. How long will it be before we can expect broadband in that area? It is a necessity and I am impressing on the Taoiseach the urgency of this matter. Despite the Government's best efforts to revitalise villages and towns, this will be a serious issue if we cannot get the plan up and running in a number of months.

I am afraid I cannot give the Deputy a definitive timeline, but the final tender came in on 18 September. It is being evaluated by the Department's procurement team. There is an evaluation committee and a procurement board. Should they be in a position to make a recommendation to Government, we would be able to make a decision on that. I do not want to give definite timelines at this stage, other than the commitment from me personally and from the Government that we will do everything in our power to expedite this and ensure it gets done.