Irish Rural Link has warned that the time for making applications under the Rural Broadband Scheme will come to an end on July 29. The scheme applies to households and premises which are outside of the regions covered by the earlier National Broadband Scheme.
Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link, said that the window for applicants was very short, and called upon people to spread the word as widely as possible to ensure that people living in remote areas with no access to broadband had the opportunity to become connected. He continued, “there is still a gap to be filled in providing high quality broadband for rural enterprise, but in the meantime, this is a step in the right direction.”
Irish Rural Link has been promoting awareness of the scheme through its national network of rural organisations and community groups, as many of those who are entitled to apply may not be aware that it exists.
The scheme is operated by the Department of Communications which opened the scheme in May, and is due to be completed by the end of 2012. Only those who cannot be served by private internet providers will be accepted, and the speeds will be broadly in line with those under the National Broadband Scheme.
Helen Dunne, policy and communications officer with Irish Rural Link, said that during their awareness campaign, Irish Rural Link had received consistent enquiries from people living in remote areas who had a very weak or slow connection. She said that unfortunately there is no support for such complaints under the scheme, as it covers only those who have no connection whatsoever. She continued that IRL would continue to lobby for improved broadband speeds and quality for rural areas.
Meanwhile, the Minister has also promised to progress the rollout of next generation broadband to every home and business in the State.
