A new European Scheme will ensure people living and working in rural areas in Co Galway, and across Ireland, will finally be able to get broadband connected to their homes and businesses.
A total of €13.413 million is being made available under the European Economic Recovery Plan through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to get broadband to rural areas which have not been covered under the Government’s National Broadband Scheme.
The scheme will be rolled out over the next two years, following the identification of areas that have yet to be broadband enabled later this year. The fund will be administered by the Department of Agriculture under the Rural Development Plan.
The news has been welcomed by Galway West Fianna Fáil TD Frank Fahey. He said areas outside the National Broadband Scheme catchment areas, those that are in ‘rural locations’ as defined under the Rural Development Plan and those which are not capable of being served by existing service providers, will qualify for coverage under this new scheme.
“This scheme will complement the good work already being done under the National Broadband Scheme. While this scheme has been very successful, I am aware of some rural areas which have unfortunately not benefited from it and it is obviously very unsatisfactory for people working and living in those areas.
“This European Scheme will complete the Government goal to provide broadband to every area right across the country by the end of 2012,” he said, “regardless of the remoteness of the location or otherwise.”
