A five year wait until 2023 for rural broadband connection in Laois has been labelled as“disgraceful” by Deputy Sean Fleming.
He said he has received confirmation that it will be 2023 before the government manages to connect 12,674 rural homes and businesses in Laois to broadband under the National Broadband Plan.
In response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil, the Communications Minister Denis Naughten confirmed that “network rollout will take 3-5 years following contract award” under the NBP.
The contract is expected to be awarded in 2018, meaning it will take up until 2023 to connect over half a million homes and businesses covered by State intervention, Deputy Fleming said.
“It’s almost impossible to believe that thousands of premises in rural Ireland will still not have a high speed broadband connection and almost one third of all homes and businesses in Co. Laois will have to wait up until 2023 to be connected.
“This Government has failed to address broadband wastelands and continued to shift the goalposts on delivery.
Black-spots
“These black-spots are costing jobs, threatening rural sustainability and creating a digital divide between urban and rural Ireland,” Deputy Fleming said.
“This Government’s neglect of rural counties must not continue,” stated Deputy Fleming.
Camross turn to Offaly man as they appoint new manager for 2018
