There are fears that up to half of Clare’s geographical area could be waiting until 2026 to be connected under the National Broadband Plan.
It comes despite National Broadband Ireland claiming all eligible premises in this county under the scheme will be surveyed by the end of next year.
Clare has traditionally seen one of the slowest progressions of the rollout of the plan since it began, with poles and cables appearing to be checked by NBI slower here than in other areas.
The body says of the 22,678 eligible premises here, there are 1,570 premises served out of the Limerick Deployment Area, taking in the South East of the county, that are ready to be connected.
The Network Build Phase is in progress for an additional 228 premises here.
It’s understood NBI is to brief Clare Councillors on the full status of the plan here shortly.
However, concerns are being raised that the rollout of the plan in this county hasn’t progressed quickly enough in the past 12 months.
Maghera-based Fianna Fail Councillor Pat Hayes says he’s concerned work on rolling out broadband locally has stalled.
Surveying works are underway in more than 6,000 areas encompassing North and East Clare, taking in the likes of Corofin and Kilkishen.
A further 3,500 premises across the county are expected to be passed and ready for connection by the end of 2022.
However, the West Clare-based CEO of a national community development body fears it could be another four years before a significant chunk of the county is connected.
Inagh-based Niall Garvey of Muintir na Tire says delays relating to COVID-19 can no longer be an excuse for any delays.
It’s estimated that as many as 5,500 premises in this county will be up and running under the plan by the end of 2023, while the remaining 13,000 premises yet to be surveyed are due to be checked by that timeframe too.
