€510m earmarked for rural broadband scheme

Villages and communities in rural areas are set to benefit from a State-backed €510m broadband roll-out which will give home and business owners access to high-speed internet connectivity.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte revealed the plan yesterday saying that up to 1,100 villages and communities would, for the first time, get fibre-optic cabling.

The investment will match commitments in the private sector but work under- and overground on the special cabling will only get under way at the end of next year.