I raise access to fibre broadband in Rathcabbin village which is in lower Ormond in the very north of my constituency. Rathcabbin is just off the main Birr to Portumna road, very north Tipperary. We have a strange situation where the village itself is in the blue zone so therefore should be provided for by commercial operators. The rural areas around the village are in the amber zone, and provided for in the national development plan through National Broadband Ireland. The rural areas for the most part have fibre broadband connection, but the commercial operators have not gone into the village yet, which is a very difficult position for the people of Rathcabbin who already suffer with bad phone reception in parts as well. For families, people trying to working from home and businesses operating, can the Tánaiste engage with the commercial providers to try and put pressure on them to get into Rathcabbin and give the people there the connectivity they deserve?

I thank Deputy O’Meara for raising this issue in relation to Rathcabbin and the affect this is having on his constituents in a very practical and real way. Broadband has become such an important part of how we live and work. It is an essential part of the infrastructure and utilities we all need. I will certainly ask the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, to engage directly. This is an interesting example of State intervention at one level and commercial intervention on another. We need to make sure nobody falls between the stools. I will ask the Minister to engage with the Deputy directly on this.