Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has welcomed eircom’s announcement that they are to significantly expand access to high speed fibre broadband in rural Ireland benefiting Ballyboughal and Oldtown in the North County.
“In Dublin Fingal, broadband will be expanded to Ballyboughal and Oldtown. This investment by eircom in fibre, in Ballyboughal and Oldtown, over the next five years, will greatly benefit families and business in the local community.
“The National Broadband Plan is a partnership between the commercial sector and the State to deliver high speed broadband to every home, school and business in Ireland. This Government has played an important role in creating the conditions for accelerated telecoms investment and I am pleased to see that companies, such as eircom, are responding strongly in terms of investment.
“Lack of broadband has been a long standing issue in rural Ireland and one that had not been addressed by previous governments. Initial commercial plans to provide high-speed access to one million homes by 2015 have now expanded into a commitment to provide access to 1.6 million homes by the end of 2016, and 1.9 million homes by 2020.
“Eircom’s announcement means the element of the National Broadband Plan that requires State intervention is likely to reduce significantly. The Minister for Communications, Alex White is expected to publish the State intervention strategy in July with a view to moving to formal procurement by the end of this year. Roll-out will commence in 2016.”