Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The delays to the roll-out of a reliable and sustainable national broadband service have had a serious and unacceptable impact on rural regions like the midlands. The potential for job creation in this region has been curtailed and hampered as a result of the ongoing and unacceptable delays in providing a basic but vital service. This is particularly concerning given that a few short months ago the unemployment rate in the midlands region, at 8%, was higher than the national average of 5%. The absence of high-speed broadband, or even basic broadband for that matter, in many towns and villages in the rural counties of Laois and Offaly is putting both counties at a significant disadvantage which is directly affecting businesses, farming families and schools.

This ongoing issue, which requires a resolution, is yet another fine example of this Government's neglect of rural Ireland. People in rural areas have once again been let down by a disconnected Government that does not represent them. A recent report in the media on the effects of the absence of broadband in rural Ireland highlighted the personal experience of a lady living in a rural region who stated that her job depended on being able to stay connected to high-speed broadband for eight and a half hours every day. The lady stated that she fears losing her job because the broadband speeds are not fast enough. She went on to say:

I’m sure my employer will pull me up any day now to explain the gaps in my availability. I have meetings with my managers over Skype video calls, and my 'broadband' cannot keep up. I have another one next week and I’m dreading it.

I’m at my wits end, I left my other job to do this one, and now I fear I will be let go because of my broadband. It’s an awful thing to fear losing your job all because you live in [a rural area].

This is just one of the many examples of the personal cost of this ongoing debacle to people living in rural Ireland.

With regard to the serious impact on businesses, a survey carried out by an online accounting firm showed that an overwhelming 96% of owners and managers of small and medium enterprises feel that rural businesses are at a competitive disadvantage due to inadequate and poor quality broadband. The survey of more than 250 SME owners and managers found that 56% believe that, when it comes to information technology, broadband is the single biggest challenge they face. The ongoing absence of basic infrastructure is also affecting farming families and schools. What people in rural Ireland want from the Minister is high-speed action to ensure that rural regions are provided with the basic infrastructure of high-speed broadband.

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