Senator Jimmy Harte has said Minister’s Pat Rabbitte’s announcement of a task force to ensure high speed broadband is delivered across rural Ireland is a major platform on which Donegal can build for the future.
The Letterkenny-based Senator said many rural areas just a couple of miles outside urban centres in Donegal have been left behind because of the lack of broadband service.
“The announcement by Minister Rabbitte of the setting up of a taskforce to extend next generation broadband across the country is a welcome development.
“The commitment to ensure broadband connections to all rural properties that can not access broadband at present is particularly welcome for areas more than three or four miles outside urban areas in my constituency.
“Minister Rabbitte, through a combination of public and private investment, aims to ensure that Ireland reaches an EU target for ubiquitous basic broadband access a year ahead of the 2013 deadline,” he said.
He said the arrival of next generation broadband will not only create jobs but speed up economic recovery across the region.
“Next generation broadband is an essential component of our economic recovery. The availability of high speed broadband is crucial for business and job creation, as well as being crucial to attracting outside investment.
“I would also welcome Minister Rabbitte’s commitment that the provision of coverage for the one per cent of premises nationally that cannot currently receive broadband, would be completed by 2012 at the latest.
“The failure of successive Fianna Fáil Governments over the past decade to roll out adequate connectivity has left Ireland well behind our international competitors in the broadband stakes.
“The commitment from the FG/Labour Government to maximise the potential in full broadband coverage, as well as the move to next generation broadband will have benefits in terms of job creation as well as associated social benefits.
And he added “It is time for Ireland to be brought into the 21st century. Labour in Government will deliver for Ireland and is committed to next generation broadband across the country.”
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