Fianna Fáil spokesperson on communications Timmy Dooley introduced a private member's motion, calling for an independent review of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) after Eir decided to pull out of the tender to deliver high-speed internet connections to 540,000 rural homes with state support. Deputy Dooley mentioned "farmers who can’t access Department of Agriculture schemes, services and records" among those in need of speedy delivery of the plan.

'Fiasco'

Roscommon-Galway independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice called on Minister for Communications Denis Naughten to ask his colleague in charge of agriculture to push back the EU requirement to submit all BPS applications online this year. "Talk to Minister Creed; at the moment the Department of Agriculture is sending out to the different farmers under the BPS, which you’re well aware of, and they’re looking for all farmers to go online. With the fiasco that’s going on with this at the moment and the delays, could you please ask them to hold off this year and wait until farmers have proper broadband?" Deputy Fitzmaurice said.

Minister Naughten acknowledged that this was a "fair point". However, he rejected the Fianna Fáil motion, arguing that the NBP process could continue with the one remaining bidder and that introducing a new review at this stage would cause further delays.

Scotland has already announced that it would not impose the 100% online BPS application requirement this year because of poor broadband connectivity.

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