€134 million to be invested locally under NBP

 

More than €130 million will be invested in Cavan and Monaghan under the National Broadband Plan, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys has confirmed.

The local Fine Gael TD revealled yesterday evening that Cavan will benefit from investment of around €73 million under the National Broadband Plan, while Monaghan will see €61 million invested.

There are 66,430 premises in the intervention area in the region, and the plan also accounts for new premises built in the intervention area during the lifetime of the plan, Minister Humphreys says.

“The National Broadband Plan will connect 540,000 premises to high-speed broadband. This will have a positive impact on one million people and on 56,000 farms (68% of our total national farms). A further 44,000 businesses and 674 schools will also be connected under the plan.”

Its claimed that the majority of premises will be connected within the first five years. Work on the network will start as soon as the Government signs the contract to move forward.

“The Communications Committee has carried out an extensive investigation into the National Broadband Plan to date and the best way to roll out rural broadband. I look forward to reading their report on the matter. However it is worth noting that none of the submissions received, or evidence given during the course of the Committee investigation, indicate any reliable, cheaper or practical alternative to the National Broadband Plan and its goal of delivering high speed broadband to all parts of Ireland,” says Minister Humphreys.

The Government believe the NBP is essential to ensure that rural Ireland is not left behind and to safeguard balanced regional development. “It is also essential to supporting regional enterprise,” adds Minister Humphreys. “It marks a landmark investment in rural Ireland that will have a game-changing impact on communities the length and breadth of the country.

“I believe that contracts should be signed, subject to due diligence and the buildout of rural broadband should commence as soon as possible.”