Criticism has been fired in the direction of the Fine Gael Government by two Clare representatives regarding the lack of progress with the National Broadband Plan.

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for the first time told the Dáil that the National Broadband Plan could cost €3bn which would be spread over twenty five years.

Clare TD and Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Timmy Dooley voiced his disapproval with the initial fee has doubled for the delivery of the broadband plan. “When this plan started out, the objective was clear, to deliver high speed broadband to 542,000 homes and businesses dotted throughout Ireland. Departmental officials had made it clear to prospective bidders that the maximum state subvention available would be capped at €500m. The two major industry players SIRO and Eir pulled out before ever submitting a tender, believing the government wasn’t prepared to commit the necessary funds to deliver fibre to rural Ireland.

“It was extremely negligent to continue the process with just one bidder. The obvious outcome has arrived, the Government has backed itself into a corner and the remaining bidder is holding all the cards. As the Taoiseach confirmed in the Dáil today, the remaining bidder; a private investment firm operating out of Boston, with limited experience in the Irish market, expects to be paid €3bn of taxpayers’ money to build a €1.5bn network. This an appalling betrayal of taxpayers and those citizens who are still waiting for broadband,” Deputy Dooley remarked.

Violet-Anne Wynne who is a Sinn Féin candidate in the Kilrush area for May’s local elections told The Clare Echo that she does not believe the excuses being offered as reasons for the delays. “It seems that the only interest is to privatise rural broadband, where costs have spiralled upward with no control, and where we still do not have a date to when broadband will be delivered to West Clare where it is vitally needed.”

She continued, “Without a clear explanation, to again tell people in West Clare that no decision has been made on providing broadband could lead to delays of months or years in the long run and add significantly to the overall cost. The National Broadband Plan was a promise in the 2011 Fine Gael manifesto, it is time to show that they are serious about delivering it.”

Related News

electoral chair debate 21-11-24 violet-anne wynne 4
Ex TD Wynne says she cannot pay this week's rent of €300 & 'is going to people who lend money & add interest'
play in pink kilrush 1
Kilrush golfers swing behind Play in Pink for cancer research
Snn Ryanair 1_cropped
Ryanair recruiting for 35 cabin crew roles in Shannon
weather warning
High temperatures reaching 30°c this weekend

Advertisement

Latest News
Snn Ryanair 1_cropped
Ryanair recruiting for 35 cabin crew roles in Shannon
weather warning
High temperatures reaching 30°c this weekend
clare rd cycle scheme 1
'Ennis is choked with cars' - Clare Greens hail transport plan as 'visionary'
joe cooney jerry buttimer orlaigh thompson 1
Irish Seed Savers contributed €115k to local economy in 2024
mill rd traffic lights 1
'Staying stuck in traffic means staying stuck in the past' warn Better Ennis
Premium
liam o'connor 1
Kilmaley's Liam left for Australia in 2012 and now runs successful Perth-based machinery & contracting business
Please Credit Photograph by Eamon Ward
'The Council want to rip up roads' - Flynn says Ennis transport plan is anti-car
mary howard mayor
Councillors stopped from having vote on Ennis transport plan with Mayor Howard coming under fire in first meeting
kerry v clare 04-05-25 manus doherty 1
Clare GAA make extra profit with sale of Roslevan house & officers commit to fight 'tooth & nail' against changes to Munster SFC
harvey's quay parnell street car park taxi rank 1
Reference to paused Ennis 2040 projects to be removed from transport plan

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement