The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, has announced details of a €25 million group broadband scheme which aims to deliver high-speed Internet access to smaller communities over the next three years.
The scheme, modeled on group water schemes, is open to rural communities of less than 1,500 and will allow smaller areas draw up and implement their own broadband schemes.
The Government will provide 55 per cent of the capital funding required for such schemes.
The first call for proposals from would-be applicants will be made tomorrow. It is envisaged that further calls will be made every six months.
"These new broadband services will reduce the peripherality of smaller and rural communities," Mr Ahern said today.
The minister also expressed his hope that broadband access would lead to "improved employment opportunities, a more favourable investment environment and make rural villages and hinterlands more economically sustainable."
The new schemes will be open to local community organisations, development groups or businesses who make a commitment to taking "a leading role" in driving the scheme in conjunction with a Broadband ISP.
Successful applicants will have to guarantee proposed schemes are sustainable, and cost-effective. They also have to ensure that the schemes meet current and projected demand for broadband in a given area.