Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, announced the funding under the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative.
Broadband Connection Points will be the first premises connected under the National Broadband Plan roll out and will bring much needed connectivity to some of the most isolated and rural communities in the country, including islands off Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork. The first BCP is expected to be connected in the first half of the year, with the remaining sites connected over the subsequent 12 months.
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The funding will be provided to each Local Authority based on the number of BCP sites in the relevant Local Authority area, and is intended to cover the costs of minor building or electrical works required to get the BCPs ready for high-speed broadband connection.
Speaking about the BCP initiative, Minister Ring said: "BCPs are publicly accessible facilities, such as community centres, schools and sports clubs, in the areas earmarked for connection under the National Broadband Plan. There will be approximately 300 BCPs across the country.
"My Department is working closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to provide these sites with a high-speed broadband connection this year. The BCPs will allow local people onsite access to broadband, so they can work remotely, trade online and access on-line services."
Minister Canney commented: "The BCP initiative will do two things: first, it will bring immediate and early connectivity to rural communities. They need it, they asked for it and we have responded. Secondly, it will give these communities a head start on digital development. They will get broadband speeds of at least 150 mbps - better than a lot of urban areas – and I would expect these sites to make the most of it.
"We want to see the BCPs providing the maximum public benefit possible, so we will continue to support the site owners as will the Local Authorities."
(CM/JG)
