Cllr Christy O'Sullivan
Broadband access for 11 West Cork villages
Eleven villages in West Cork are set to get broadband access over the coming months as Eircom upgrades the local telephone exchanges in these areas, according to local Fianna Fáil Dail candidate Cllr Christy O’Sullivan.
‘Eircom is committing an extra €30 million to allow up to 140,000 new customers across the country to connect to a broadband-enabled exchange.
‘In West Cork, that means customers in Baltimore, Castletownshend, Churchcross, Clonakilty, Drinagh, Eyeries, Goleen, Kealkill, Minane Bridge, Rossmore and Schull will shortly be connected to broadband.
‘The move comes following a meeting between Communications Minister Noel Dempsey and Eircom management where the Government made it clear it wanted to see substantial progress on broadband in a number of areas.
‘Significantly, the National Development Plan’s focus on better rollout of broadband services in rural areas over the coming years shows the Government is committed to supporting business, wherever it is. Fast access to high-tech computer technology is a vital component of the business platform. Without broadband, businesses are less likely to start up in rural areas and creating high-capacity backbone infrastructure for broadband is key to putting our rural communities on the technological map.
‘Broadband access also builds communities by helping friends and relatives to keep in touch over the internet. It secures their future through job creation and investment and allows ordinary households to tap the information age,’ said Councillor O’Sullivan.