Councillors call for faster rollout of high-speed broadband

Anton McNulty

THE roll-out of the National Broadband Plan across rural parts of the county must be sped up for communities to survive after the Covid pandemic, according to councillors. Currently in Mayo, 36,495 premises have no access to high speed broadband.
A presentation on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan in Mayo was given to members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District by David Reddington, the Broadband Officer in Mayo County Council.
He told those in attendance that National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is planning to spend €144 million to provide high-speed broadband in Mayo, and that this is a five- to seven-year plan.
“A lot of people are going to be disappointed that they are going to be connected towards the latter part of the five to seven years,” he admitted.
Mr Reddington said one of the initiatives of the plan was to connect community centres with high-speed broadband connection at year one of the plan. Six of these communities are in the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, with Clare Island already live. Communities centres in Keel, Cuslough and Belderrig will be activated on May 21.
While this development was welcomed by the councillors in the MD, some spoke of their concern that it will take up to seven years for communities to be fully connected.

‘Glimmer of hope’
Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara said that the possibility of working from home could give rural Ireland more economically secure future, and that high-speed broadband must be made available.
“There is a glimmer of hope for rural Ireland and that is working from home and to do that we have to have high-speed broadband in these areas. I welcome the rollout but I can’t understand why it has arrived at Keel Community Centre and yet takes five or seven years for it to go back the road three or four miles.
“It amazes me it can take that length of time when the infrastructure is arriving into the communities. We have to work harder and push Government levels to make sure high-speed broadband is brought to every rural area and dwelling house,” he said.
Cllr Peter Flynn added that a lot of businesses in rural areas were struggling, arguing that high-speed broadband into west Mayo needs to be fast tracked.
“Good broadband is nearly as important as good water to any household or business, it is becoming that critical. Covid has brought it home how vital it is to have a facility like this in your community.”
In response, Mr Reddington said that Covid had resulted in extra pressure at Government level for the NBI to shorten its timeframe on the rollout. He added that the technology used on the community centres was ‘line of sight’ and not fibre and that it is not feasible to do this with every house.