There are calls in Clare for communication to the public around the rollout of the National Broadband Plan to be greatly improved.
New data shows National Broadband Ireland has slashed the number of premises it intends to pass by the end of this year in half.
Poor internet connections are something that many people in Clare, particularly in rural parts of the county, are all too familiar with.
Just 40 thousand homes nationwide were passed by NBI as of the end of March according to figures received by Sinn Fein.
NBI’s target for the end of 2022, has been cut from 205,000 to 102,000.
Clare has seen one of the slowest progressions of the rollout of the plan, with the 3,500 premises in this county that had been expected to be ready for connection by the end of this year now expected to be significantly reduced.
National Broadband Ireland insists they are confident the project can be delivered on time and on budget.
However, Paul Ellingstad, who’s with the Ennis chapter of the Grow Remote organisation, says communication is an area that needs great improvement both from NBI and the State.
NBI remain adamant that despite challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and thousands more premises’ being added to its intervention area, the plan will be delivered within its scheduled seven year timeframe.
Niall Garvey, who’s the Inagh-based CEO of Muintir na Tire, is remaining optimistic on that front, but says further pressure will need to be put on NBI to ensure that timeframe is met.
NBI has previously told the Oireachtas Communications Committee it intends to have 5,500 Clare premises’ up and running under the plan by the end of next year, though with this latest row back on projections, it remains to be seen if that will still be the case.
