Communications Infrastructure Black Spots Undermine Economic Development in Rural Areas – IFA

IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chairman Thomas Cooney has called on the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to step up to its responsibility, and address the failure of telecommunications companies to provide adequate broadband and mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

The call on ComReg follows the completion of a snapshot survey by IFA, which identifies deficiencies in communications infrastructure across the country, with IFA members from Malin Head in Donegal down to Caherciveen in Co. Kerry reporting inadequate broadband and mobile phone coverage.

Thomas Cooney said, “Inadequate mobile and broadband coverage continues to undermine the enterprise potential of rural Ireland, with farm families struggling to complete Department of Agriculture application forms and regularly experiencing dropped calls on their mobile phones. ComReg must ensure that the removal of communications infrastructure by some operators is stopped until the issue of poor coverage is addressed.”

A key priority of the new Government must be to swiftly conclude the tendering process for the new rural broadband scheme, “This scheme must ensure that every home, school and business in rural Ireland has access to a high-speed fibre broadband at a universal price, no matter where they are located”, Thomas Cooney said.

 

Key mobile and broadband black spots identified by IFA members in Ireland

 

Clare	Dublin	Waterford	Cavan
Feakle Bodyke Lissycasey Kildysart Ardnachrusha	Garristown Fieldstown West Kilmashogue Killakee Cruagh Thornton Hall	Kilmanihan Glencairn Ballysaggart Clashmore Village Old Parish	Ballyhaise Knockbride Drung Shercock Redhills
Cork Central	Cork North	Cork West	Offaly
Donoughmore Ballinadee Ballymacoda Lisgoold Duhallow area	Buttevant Ballyhooly Burnfort, Mallow Bridgetown, Castletownroche The Hill, Castletownroche	Inchingerig Bridge, Drimoleague Fanlobus, Dunmanway Ballydehob village Kilpatrick, Macroom Aughaville & Colomane	Geashill Ferbane Clareen
Wicklow	Limerick	Kildare	Longford
Roundwood Arklow Newcastle	Ballyagran Pallasgreen Adare Caherconlish Ballyneety	Kilkee, Castledermot Tankardstown Timahoe Moyglare, Maynooth Milltown	Ballinalee Newtownforbes Kilashee Firmount Cammegh, Moyne
Laois	Sligo	Kerry	Leitrim
Mountrath Emo Ballybrittas Rosenallis Clonaslee	Aughris Lara, Skreen Templeboy	Churchill Ballylongford Moyvane Kilgarvan Caherciveen	Gortletteragh Aughavas Kiltubrid Gowel, Carrick on Shannon Kinlough
Kilkenny	Tipperary	Westmeath	Donegal
Thomastown Weatherstown, Glenmore Ballyfacey Cross, Glenmore Freshford	Loughmore Templetuohy Dromineer	Ballymore Moyvore Drumraney	Tooban, Burnfoot Fahan village Drumfries Glengad Muff