Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry John Brassil says the government’s commitment to rural Ireland has been exposed as it has once again delayed its timeline for the National Broadband Plan.
The Taoiseach had signalled that a decision on the NBP would be announced before Easter, but only a few days out it seems unlikely at this stage that this deadline will be met.
Deputy Brassil said, “Time and time again, various Ministers and the Taoiseach himself have talked about outlining the details of the National Broadband Plan, and yet here we are, more than six years since it was first announced with no plan. During this time, the impact on homes, farms and businesses has been immense.
“In Kerry, generations have been left behind. Broadband black spots have seen jobs and young people driven away. Even simple tasks like downloading files can prove difficult. Despite living in a digital age, the fact of the matter for residents of certain parts of the county, they have been left behind in a different era.
“People have been growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of broadband in their area. What the government seems to be failing to grasp is the fact that broadband is not some sort of luxury item – it is now a basic necessity – and yet there are certain parts of this county where is no access to a decent connection.
“The policies of Fine Gael continue to isolate residents in rural Ireland. It is now more than 6 years since the National Broadband Plan was first announced and we seem to be no nearer to bringing broadband to rural areas in Kerry now than we were back in 2012. The delays to date are completely unacceptable and it is time for the government to deliver,” concluded Deputy Brassil.
