Areas in west Mayo – including Newport, Westport and Louisburgh  -will not see the benefits of the National Broadband Plan rollout until 2023, which is a long wait, according to  local councillor Peter Flynn.

The Fine Gael councillor urged that the timeline be reduced in light of the vital need for broadband in an area already seriously impacted by the pandemic and that relies so heavily on attracting tourists into the region.

Joe Lavin, the Chief Commercial Officer at National Broadband Ireland, addressed this week’s monthly meeting of Mayo County Council. He outlined the timeline of about 18 months for the National Broadband Plan to be delivered in the Ballina and Castlebar areas, but admitted that areas further out in the county will have a longer wait for the service.

At present up to 40 percent of householders and businesses in the county are without an adequate broadband service.

Cllr Flynn spoke to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about the less than good news for West Mayo businesses and householders awaiting this basic piece of infrastructure....