National broadband plan

He was there launching the report.

He said the last strategy had been effective, particularly for broadband availability with half a million homes connected as a result of the National Broadband Plan.

He was saying that data showed that 67% of jobs assisted by Enterprise Ireland had been created outside of Dublin and that 57% of IDA investment was now being made in rural Ireland.

He said there's been significant population growth in many towns and villages across rural Ireland.

A 2019 report in the Irish Examiner noted 10 million euros of airstrips sitting idle for a decade.

There's broadband work through the National Broadband Plan and remote working hubs, which is the modern version of the same idea, keeping people on the island by keeping them connected.

Health is a persistent problem.

GPs, nurses, emergency services with air and sea ambulance arrangements as the actual lifelines.