The Chairperson of the Border Region Authority, Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy, has welcomed progress made on the roll-out of the Rural Broadband Scheme and has called on the government to announce full details without delay.

 Cllr. Carthy was speaking following a meeting of the Border Regional Authority which was addressed by Seán Griffin from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

It has been confirmed that €17.8million has been secured for the scheme which will allow people in rural areas outside of the current National Broadband Scheme boundaries to register with the department and will then ensure access to broadband for these individual premises in rural Ireland to which affordable broadband is not currently available and is unlikely to be available in the near future.

Cllr. Carthy has welcomed the details already announced and he has urged people who currently cannot get broadband coverage to their home to become aware of the registration period when it is announced and ensure that their neighbours also register.  The Sinn Féin councillor stated that he was hopeful that the department will be outlining full details shorthly.

“I have been highlighting many areas in County Monaghan which were outside of the National Broadband Scheme which cannot get access to broadband.  Hopefully this new scheme will address their needs” Cllr. Carthy said.