Gaeltachts losing out due to poor broadband

Companies are paying exorbitant premiums to base their businesses in Gaeltacht areas.

But despite forking out, in some cases, tens of thousands of euro on telecommunications, high- speed broadband access remains a challenge in many areas.

The broadband problem is inhibiting efforts to attract employers to Gaeltacht regions.

The claim was made by Anna Ní Ghallachoir, the chairperson of the state development agency, Údarás na Gaeltachta.

In the agency’s end-of- year statement, she said high-speed broadband was required by its client firms, but the investment in the service had not met their requirements.

“In order to attract inward investment, the Gaeltacht needs to be in a position to offer modern enterprises the most up- to-date physical, business, and telecommunications infrastructure,” said Ms Ní Ghallachoir.

“The absence of access to high-speed broadband is still a challenge for companies in some Gaeltacht areas.”

Údarás said there are firms trying to compete despite the prohibitive costs of poor-quality broadband.

One Connemara-based company was cited as having to pay €24,000 a year to lease a 2MB line.

Another Donegal firm is spending €20,000 a year to get a broadband service which it estimated would cost €200 to secure in London.

Údarás said the problem varies in different parts of the country.

The agency has invested €60,000 in an exchange server for Ballyvourney but this was as much as it could do within its remit.

In Kerry, the service west of Dingle was said to be blighted by a signal that breaks continually.

In Gweedore, Co Donegal, Údarás is in negotiations with communications companies to try to fast-track the roll-out of high-speed broadband required for one client company.

A spokesperson for Údarás said the demands of companies for quality broadband access are increasing all the time as more of them look to avail of cloud computing solutions.

The agency said it has looked to work with the communications companies to try to bring better services to Gaeltacht areas.

However, investment in infrastructure had not happened quickly enough to meet firms’ needs.

The comments on the rural broadband service were contained in the end-of-year statement by Údarás.

The statement shows Gaeltacht areas had seen a net loss of 31 jobs, the lowest fall in 14 years.

It said firms that were reliant on the domestic market continued to face tough trading conditions but those which had more of an export focus were doing well.

“Companies involved in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, food, and niche manufacturing sectors increased their employment levels during the year. During 2012, export-led companies continued to grow sales and employment,” the statement said.