Clearer picture on rural broadband rollout to emerge on monday

People suffering from a lack of decent broadband should finally – this Monday – get a clearer idea of when things are likely to improve where they are.

Maps showing where broadband is available – and more importantly, where it is not – are to be published on Monday.

Westmeath is likely to feature prominently in the National  Broadband Plan maps, that Communications Minister, Alex White is launching in Doolin.

Already there’s a long list of Westmeath areas that are deemed “blackspots” – areas that just don’t get the sort of download speeds that are taken for granted in places such as Mullingar town.

The map is intended to show in details the locations across Ireland that will have access to commercially-provided high speed, high-quality broadband by the end of 2016, and the remaining locations, which will require state intervention to provide access to high speed, high-quality broadband.

Also on Moday, the minister will outline the next stages in the roll-out of the programme to bring high-speed broadband access to all homes, schools and businesses in the State regardless of their location.

Already, on the Department’s list of Westmeath “blackspots” are: Archerstown, Ballinea, Ballinalack, Ballykeeran, Ballymore, Ballynacargy, Ballinagore, Baylin, Bracklyn, Castletown, Castletown Geoghegan, Collinstown, Coralstown, Dalystown, Drumcree, Drumraney, Dysart, Fardrum, Finea, Fore, Gaybrook, Glasson, Horseleap, Knockdrin, Loughnavalley, Monilea, Mount Temple, Moyvoughley, Rathconrath, Rathowen, Rosemount, Slanemore, Streamstown, Streete, Tang, The Downs, The Pigeons and Walderstown.