Broadband Blackspots: ‘We have three 4G dongles, but we still haven’t proper coverage’

KILMESSAN

For the Hurley family of Crerogue, Kilmessan, travelling to the homes of family members in Navan or Dublin is an essential part of working or studying from home.

Internet coverage is so bad in their own home, they rely on others to upload assignments or download files.

Brendan Hurley says that during the lockdowns his daughter had to travel into Navan to her grandfather's house to upload assignments.

"My daughter's partner had to move out as he couldn't work from home here," says Brendan.

What is really galling for the family is that they have been told it could be another four years before they have proper broadband,

“We have been given a date between January 2025 and December 2026 - this won't be solved for us any time soon.

“Broadband is non-existent. We have three 4G dongles on the go, but we still haven't proper coverage.

"My daughter is doing a full-time Masters and when she has assignments to upload, she goes into my father in Navan. He has very fast broadband.

“Another daughter's partner was staying here during lockdown, but he had to move out as he just couldn't work from home here at all.

“We have had providers come out, but we were told they couldn't provide a connection. Then we heard the news that National Broadband are doubling their speed, but it is ridiculous that so many have no connection at all.”

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Brendan said that a number of people living close to him have good fibre broadband. Some of our neighbours have great broadband and then some of us have none.

"We are only around the corner from Kiltale, where they have great broadband because of the European Veterinary Office. Kilmessan village had problems for a few years but I think it has good coverage now."

Brendan said that he doesn't work from home very often but when he does, it’s almost impossible.

"My daughter and I were both on Teams meetings one day last week, using two dongles, but we had to warn everyone in the house not to use anything.

"I do a bit of photography, but if I want to upload anything I have to go to either my son's house or my father's."

"It is so frustrating that it is possibly going to go on for another five years before we have decent broadband," he said.