Mattie McGrath challenged the Tánaiste over delays in rural broadband in Tipperary, pressing for an accelerated rollout of the National Broadband Plan. He warned that almost 30,000 families, homes, businesses and schools are waiting for broadband and said the current four-year rollout timetable is unacceptable during COVID.
Scope of the demand
Mattie McGrath cited National Broadband Ireland figures that point to almost 30,000 households, businesses and schools in Tipperary awaiting broadband. He noted a parliamentary reply indicating 8,000 surveyed in the county and argued that some 21,000 remain unsurveyed.
Impact during the pandemic
He stressed the consequences for work, business and education as people in rural areas try to access services remotely during COVID. He emphasised that rural communities deserve the same ability to work from home and run businesses as urban areas.
Government response and plan details
The Tánaiste replied that a meeting with National Broadband Ireland is scheduled in the coming weeks to discuss acceleration of the plan. He described the National Broadband Plan as a "huge investment" of three billion euros in rural Ireland and said the contract was signed by the last government, which many in the house had opposed.
Rollout timeline and constraints
The Tánaiste outlined that the programme envisages connecting about 100,000 homes, farms and businesses each year over the next six to seven years. He said political will and funding are in place but cautioned that the project is a large technical operation that can only be carried out as fast as practicable, adding that "if it can be speeded up, it will be speeded up."
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There are almost 30,000 families, homes, businesses and indeed schools waiting for broadband in Tipperary, according to the NBI. A recent PQ response that I got told me that there was 8,000 surveyed in Tipperary and that means there are 21,000 not surveyed. These people are trying to, especially in COVID, trying to work, do business, do education, do everything and leisure and pleasure. So when will it be accelerated? The role of broadband, because people, you mentioned about the banks and IT and everything online now, you're not thinking about people in rural Ireland that can't access it and have no idea when they're going to access it. We're talking about four years of rollout. When is it going to be accelerated for these people to be able to work from home and do business like you say, you can in Dublin, you're so fortunate in your constituency. People in rural Ireland are entitled to fair play as well. Deputy McGrath, Tarnister. Thanks, Deputy. Most people do their banking online and they do it on their phone and you don't need broadband for that. And I think if you ask around your own constituency and your own community, they'll tell you that, that they do it mainly on their phone. But leaving that aside, I'm going to be meeting with NBI, with National Broadband Ireland in the next couple of weeks to discuss with them the acceleration of the National Broadband Plan. As you know, this is a huge investment, three billion euros being invested in rural Ireland, a contract signed by the last government, opposed by most people in this house. I'm glad they no longer oppose it. They want it to be accelerated. And that's exactly what I'll be talking to the company about. It involves 100,000 homes, farms and businesses being connected every year for the next six or seven years. If it can be speeded up, it will be speeded up. The political will is there to do it. The money is there to do it. But I understand this is a huge technical operation and it can only be done as fast as it can be done. Thank you, Tony.
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