Broadband scheme deadline

THE deadline for applications for the Rural Broadband Scheme is approaching fast, with people being urged to make their applications before July 29.
The scheme aims to identify the remaining premises in rural Ireland that are unable to obtain a broadband service and to provide a service where requested. It is run in conjunction with the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and is open to all applicants who live outside areas covered by the National Broadband Scheme.
Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey commented that the scheme may be of particular benefit to people living in Clare’s rural areas.
“It’s critical that we have a fast, modern efficient broadband network in Ireland. This is essential for both home and business transactions and we need to ensure that geography is not a barrier to modern communications.
“There are still areas of Clare where broadband service is not up to scratch and providers are not meeting the demands of households. I know that particular areas of east and west of the county have intermittent or unreliable coverage. It is simply not enough in this day age for households to have to rely on mobile broadband coverage, when there should be fast reliable fixed line infrastructure available. This scheme will rectify that situation. The government has also set up a task force to extend very fast generation broadband across all areas of the country by 2012.”