Broadband roll out criticised

Louth TD Gerry Adams has criticised the government’s ‘inadequate’ roll out of broadband in County Louth.

Following an Oireachtas briefing on the issue last week Deputy Adams said:

‘Like many other constituencies with a mix of rural and urban areas, Louth faces many challenges in creating jobs, retaining existing employment, and encouraging investment.’

He added that broadband is essential to meeting these challenges.

‘ The government’s implementation of its Broadband strategy, first announced in 2012, has been confused and inefficient.

The delay in the provision of Broadband in the State Intervention area of Louth which accounts for eight and a half thousand premises is of particular concern.

The contract for this work was due to be awarded last month.’

Deputy Adams said that however, last week, the Minister revealed that the formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will have responsibility for rolling out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention areas is still ongoing.’

He explained that on June 20th, the Department wrote to the three bidders in the procurement process inviting them to submit their ‘Detailed Solutions’ by September 26th.

‘No date has been set by Minister Naughten for the conclusion of the procurement process.

Even when this is finally done, the actual commencement of construction and the putting into effect of the State Intervention area could take several more years.’

‘ That means that 535,875 premises across the state and the eight and half thousand in Louth still have no indication of when they can expect to receive broadband services.’

The Louth TD said that ‘greater energy and urgency needs to be adopted by the government if Broadband provision in County Louth is to improve and if those premises covered by the State Intervention area are to receive Broadband quickly.