*Cllr Joe Cooney. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
AN EAST CLARE councillor has encouraged National Broadband Ireland (NBI) not to omit nursing homes in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan (NPB).
NBI’s Chief Commercial Officer, Joe Lavin briefed Clare councillors and explained that they are obligated to connect to every premise on the island if it is habituated.
Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) praised NBI for the “fantastic work” done at the Kilkishen hub and how they operated around the grounds of Hamilton Park in the East Clare village. He also highlighted concerns from residents of rural roads and cul de sacs on future connections. “I don’t think nursing homes should be left out, I am aware of one facility without it,” he stated.
A recent encounter with two NBI engineers five miles west of Ennis was recounted by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) who informed him the area would be waiting two years for broadband. He stressed that the NBP was vital to the future of rural Ireland.
Better engagement between eir and NBI was recommended by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). “Some constituents are 50 yards away from connections and nobody wants to service them, I’m at a loss as to why they can’t be provided with broadband, some joined up thinking is needed”. He highlighted branches cut off a tree were left in a meadow area belonging to two Clare farmers following work by NBI staff.
In instances when it is over €5,000 to install the infrastructure, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) questioned if the cost was secured. Lavin responded, “We connect the customer irrespective of the cost up to €5000, if it’s over that we will talk to the user of an alternative way to do that, we ask them to cover incremental costs”.
This prompted Cllr Keating to ask, “if somebody wanted it urgently, would you do it at a price”. Lavin responded, “if we’re building in significant areas we can’t look to prioritise other areas because it becomes a free for all”.
He explained that it takes an approximate twelve months of work from start to finish for each connection. Lavin confirmed there was no link up between them and eir, “they are a customer, they sell on our network, they are entitled to build into the amber area like Virgin Media or anyone else, we can’t go into their space”.
