Census highlights urban/ rural broadband divide

THE Labour party spokesperson for communications, Cork East TD Sean Sherlock, has said the census results highlighted the broad gulf that exists between urban and ruralbroad band services.

The Mallow-based deputy said that according to figures produced by the census some 76% of urban households were connected to broadband in 2016, compared with just 61% in rural parts of the country.

He pointed out there were more urban that rural households recorded as having no internet connection at all.

“These figures show that over the five-years following Census 2011 an additional 114,000 Irish households received broadband, reflecting and increase of just 7%,” said Deputy Sherlock.

He went on to make light of the recent claim by Communications Minister Denis Naughten that every household in the country would have access to a high-speed internet connection within the next two-years.

“If we couldn’t bridge that gap in five years, what hope do we have in two, when the tender process continues to change?”

Deputy Sherlock said that while Minister Naughten has hailed the National Broadband Plan as a victory for rural Ireland, Census 2016 has shown that rural areas still lag behind urban Ireland.

“We have a tail of two dailups with no end in sight,” said Deputy Sherlock.

“We also have no link as to where the new premises to receive broadband will be, with the terminology suggesting it won’t reach outside of the metropolitan capitals. My fear is that those seeking to establish businesses and run them in rural Ireland will continue to be left behind,” he added.