Broadband plan a waste, says union

A €140 million Government plan to deliver broadband to 80 towns throughout Ireland is an arrogant waste of money, the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) has warned.

Under the plan €35m will be spent every year until 2007 rolling out a Group Broadband Scheme which is aimed at rural areas and towns with a population of more than 1,500.

However CWU head of regulatory affairs Michael Bride said taxpayers’ money would be wasted duplicating an existing network.