Broadband consultation process to begin

Ray Butler TD has encouraged people in rural areas of Meath to engage with a consultation process on the rollout of broadband services to rural Ireland.

Deputy Butler was speaking after the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White TD, published national and county maps and a consultation document. The maps identify the homes, businesses and schools where commercial providers will deliver high-speed broadband access by the end of 2016.

'I encourage people in rural areas of Meath to engage with this consultation process so we can get an accurate picture of the broadband service in rural areas,' said Deputy Butler. 'There is a disparity between urban and rural areas and we need to ensure that the investment programme which the Government is committed to pursuing will adequately address the problems faced by rural dwellers in accessing broadband.'

People in rural Ireland deserve to have the same access to information, culture, ideas, social interaction and opportunity that people as those in our towns and cities, he added.

'We also need to be able to attract jobs into rural areas. I cannot overstate the importance of the rollout of broadband to every home, school and business in the country. It has been compared to the installation of electricity in rural Ireland,' he said.

According to Deputy Butler, the Government's plan will provide an opportunity to bridge the digital divide that exists between urban and rural Ireland for once and for all.

'People in rural Ireland deserve to have the same quality of life as their urban counterparts,' he added. 'This is about keeping families and communities together and helping them to keep in touch with loved ones. Rural dwellers and businesses deserve to be able to avail of the massive practical resources and services that are available online.'