Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The status of broadband in Carlow is that today 65% of premises have access to high-speed broadband, compared with 61% in 2015. Some 18,052 or 28% of Carlow premises will receive high-speed broadband under the State intervention. Since April 2017, Eir has provided high-speed broadband to 1,980 premises in Carlow. When Eir's deployment is complete, the company will have provided high-speed broadband to 3,942 premises in Carlow. The national broadband plan investment in providing high-speed broadband in Carlow over the duration of the plan will be approximately €29 million.

The maps use the latest version of GeoDirectory and are revised every three months. They show the number of premises in all the areas of the map, including the light blue areas, and may change from version to version. The information shows that improvements are happening. On commercial activity in Carlow, SIRO is active in Carlow town with a 1 Gb connection to the Carlow gigabit hub and more than €7 million is being invested by Open Eir in upgrading the broadband network in the county. The mobile telephone and broadband task force for those premises awaiting access to high-speed broadband will continue to progress practical initiatives through the task force to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile broadband services.

Engagement between the telecommunications operators and the local authorities' broadband officers continues to strengthen. These broadband officers act as a single point of contact in the local authorities for communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.

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