Significant delays to the rollout of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) to rural communities has officially been confirmed.

The government and National Broadband Ireland revealed just 17,000 premises have been completed this year to date, with a further announcement detailing how the original target of 115,000 installations for 2021 has been almost halved to 60,000.

Sinn Féin representative Claire Kerrane TD has raised concerns about the news, which she says will have "serious implications" for rural communities.

-- Advertisement --

"Yet again, we are hearing that workers and families in rural areas will be left waiting for broadband, and it seems there are many areas which will be waiting for quite some time," said Teachta Kerrane.

"Households and businesses in rural areas need reliable broadband for their day-to-day lives. Accelerated broadband rollout for rural communities is not too much to ask for in this day and age. 

"It was a commitment in the Programme for Government, and it is still being looked at as regards the possibility of making this happen.

"I am calling on the government to ensure that targets for broadband in rural areas are ambitious and that resources are provided to ensure they are met.

"We need to see government accountability for broadband rollout in rural communities and we need to see it now."