A new European scheme will ensure that people living and working in rural areas that have not benefited under the Government’s National Broadband Scheme will be able to get broadband connected to their homes and businesses.
According to Minister for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD 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.
Minister Calleary welcomed the news and said that it will ensure that rural areas are afforded the same access to broadband as other areas.
“A total of €13.413 million is being made available under the European Economic Recovery Plan through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD ) to get broadband to rural areas which have not been covered under the Government’s National Broadband Scheme.
“This fund will be administered under the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food under the Rural Development Plan.”
“Areas that are outside of the National Broadband Scheme catchment areas, which 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 that 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, regardless of the remoteness of the location or otherwise,” concluded Minister Calleary.
