The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources confirmed last week that it will be 2017 before the National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract will be awarded.

This will mean that many rural homes and businesses will not have adequate broadband until 2022, with the Government originally promising an adequate network by 2020.

In an IFA snapshot survey 90 broadband blackspots in 18 counties were identified, highlighting the need to improve the current situation as soon as possible.

“Over 750,000 rural households across the country continue to be denied a modern fibre broadband network,” said IFA Environment and Rural Affairs chair Thomas Cooney,.

He added that the Government must “demonstrate their commitment to rural Ireland to review and reverse this decision.”