Limerick Fine Gael TD, Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement by Eircom to expand its broadband services in Co. Limerick. Patrick O’Donovan, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, said that he has been raising the need to improve the roll out of broadband services in rural communities in the Dáil and in the Committee and this is welcome news for businesses and householders.
Eircom have announced an improved service in; Ballagh, Ballyagran, Ballylanders, Broadford, Feenagh, Galbally, Glenroe, Granagh, Herbertstown, Knockaderry, Kilmeedy, Meanus, Pallasgreen and Tournafulla
“This is very welcome news for the communities that are going to see an improved service, but it is by no means a final solution. I know that there are communities across Co. limerick in desperate need of an improved broadband service and that is why the Government is developing the National Broadband Plan, which is the Government’s plan to have high speed quality broadband delivered to every home and business in the country.”
“This plan acknowledges that there are parts of the country where commercial operators are not providing a service and the Government have committed to addressing these communities and to providing a service to them. This involves approval from the EU and work within the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is currently well under way and is on schedule.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that he would be continuing to use his position as a member of the Oirecahtas Communications Committee to prioritise the need for improved broadband services. He said that there had been a number of very positive initiatives under this Government including legislation that allowed ESB to enter into a relationship with Vodafone to use the existing ESB network to deliver broadband cables. He said that this project is now underway and is also delivering badly needed connectivity to rural communities.