Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Anne Rabbitte is calling on the Minister for Communications, the Minister for Local Government and the Minister for Rural & Community Development to examine mobile phone blackspots in Co. Galway and to urgently intervene to plug the gaps in the delivery of fibre broadband to rural parts of the county.
Deputy Rabbitte has put forward Parliamentary Questions to the relevant Ministers after she raised the issue in the Dáil Chamber this week.
Deputy Rabbitte stated in frustration:
Co. Galway has the second highest number of mobile phone blackspots in the country, with 64 identified by the Department of Rural and Community Development. While certain parts of the country are making huge digital advances, Galway is being left behind once again. From the closure of our banks, post offices and rural shops, we are now being left stranded with no mobile phone coverage.
The government is ignoring the needs of the people and communities in Galway. While the mobile phone blackspots have been identified, we need to see a similar analysis of broadband blackspots across the country.
Deputy Rabbitte went on:
Mobile phone and broadband coverage is not a luxury – it is a basic necessity for everyday life whether you are a student, a business owner, a farmer or a stay at home parent. These services need to be prioritised so that every person living in an urban or rural area has access to quality mobile and broadband services.
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