State must support rural broadband in Mayo

STATE funding is needed to bring high speed broadband to rural areas, where communities have been 'let down badly'.

Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District councillors' criticism was aired after a presentation by SIRO who are delivering a project in Claremorris town that will benefit1,544 properties, business and residential.

The ESB-Vodafone venture does not receive State funding and its remit is not to go into rural areas – that falls under the National Broadband Plan.

SIRO's Claremorris project, which is at low level design and site investigation stage, was welcomed for giving extra resilience to the town. Their high quality fibre broadband utilises existing ESB infrastructure, including poles and ducting.

In this phase of the build programme, Claremorris is currently the last Mayo town where works will be taking place.

Elected representatives recognised SIRO's position as a private company that must make a profit and that it doesn’t receive State subsidies. However, their concern is that rural areas are being left behind.

Under the current system, Councillor Tom Connolly highlighted, there is inconsistency in that some villages get connected but down the road you can't.

“Rural Ireland is being let down very badly,” said Councillor Michael Burke. They needed to know they will have a service.

The SIRO representatives were asked about expanding to other towns, such as Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Swinford or Kiltimagh. But, as Councillor Patsy O'Brien pointed out, it all comes down to critical mass to turn a profit.

If it isn't brought into rural Ireland then it was the government who are to blame, said Councillor Richard Finn. It was up to government to help companies bring broadband out to the people.

Councillor Gerry Murray said we need a national utility as the private sector don’t want to service areas with lower economies of scale, which is understandable.

The council's broadband and digital officer, on the National Broadband Plan, posed the question: Was it moving as fast as they would like? “Absolutely not.”