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Fibre-optic broadband for 78
Donegal areas
28.04.14
SEVENTY-EIGHT rural
towns and villages in Co Donegal are to get
superfast fibre-optic broadband under a new €500m
scheme announced by Government.
In Inishowen, Newtown, Bridgend, Fahan, Buncrana,
Carndonagh, Moville and Greencastle will be included
in the primary roll-out. Meanwhile, Redcastle,
Lecamy, Carrowmenagh, Glentogher, Gleneely, Dunaff
and the Isle of Doagh will be part of a later
tranche.
The 78 locations are to be included in the plan
revealed last week by Communications Minister Pat
Rabbitte. Under the plan more than one million homes
and businesses in rural Ireland are set to be
connected to high-speed broadband by 2016. |
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Inishowen Labour
councillor, Martin Farren said many rural schools,
businesses and homes could look forward to a much
speedier internet service.
“This is a major investment in the broadband
infrastructure of rural Ireland and represents the
first phase in the State’s plan to ensure that
everyone in rural Ireland enjoys high quality
broadband," he said.
"Many rural premises will be passed by fibre that
can offer unlimited speeds. Local schools and other
community facilities will get direct fibre
connections and telecoms operators will be able to
serve rural dwellers in villages and beyond with a
much better service than they currently enjoy."
Meanwhile, the Moville-based councillor also
welcomed proposals to bring new business
opportunities to the rural post office network
including the possibility of banking services being
offered in association with credit unions.
He said Mr Rabbitte was also open to exploring ideas
such as providing driving and motor tax renewal as
well as property tax payment options at post
offices.
He said the minister provided assurances that people
would "continue to be entitled to receive their
benefits in person at post offices if they choose to
do so, in spite of the ongoing move towards direct
debit payment of benefits into bank accounts". For a
list of the Donegal towns ear-marked in the first
tranche of fibre optic broadband,
click here
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