Welcome for broadband initiative comes with a warning

A warning that the latest initiative to provide high speed broadband services to rural communities in south Kildare should not be just another 'false dawn' has been issued by local FG TD Martin Heydon, writes Brian Byrne.

He was giving a cautious welcome to the confirmation by Eircom that they plan to significantly expand fibre service

“This is the number one concern in many areas of rural south Kildare and one that I have raised with both Eircom and the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources many times over the past four years," he says. "A survey I undertook last year highlighted that 92 percent of respondents in rural areas of Kildare South did not have a broadband service that was suitable for their needs. I welcome any initiatives that will see quality high speed broadband available to residents of these areas as soon as possible, but these residents have seen many false dawns and now just need to see results."

Eircom confirmed today that the areas concerned are Calverstown, Narraghmore, Kilmeade, Brannockstown, Mageney, Blacktrench, Coolcarrigan and Cherryville, which all need high speed Broadband and need it quickly. "They are all areas that were highlighted in the Government National Broadband Plan which aims to provide quality high speed broadband in areas where commercial investment has not happened. Today's announcement will take these areas out of the Government Broadband Plan as they will now be seen as being catered for by a commercial operator and so not in need of state investment. I don’t mind who provides the services to these areas as long as it happens quickly."

The Eircom solution will see fibre to fibre broadband from Eircom with potential speeds of up to 1gbps which is greater than anything available up to now but the deputy said there's a real need to ensure these communities don’t lose out and this service is provided quicker than the state intervention which is committed to at present.

Eircode information campaign by Muintir

An information campaign on the new Eircode post-code system being introduced in Ireland is being undertaken at local level by Muintir na Tire, writes Brian Byrne.

The group is particularly aiming at elderly people who might need the system explained, or confusion or misunderstandings cleared up, and is inviting people with elderly family members or neighbours to contact them.

Conor O’Leary of Muintir na Tire is contactable on 086 6000753 or conor@muintir.ie.

This summer a letter will be sent to all addresses in Kildare notifying them of the Eircode for that address. People simply include the Eircode at the bottom of their address in all correspondence.

Conor O'Leary says there are many benefits to using Eircode, including making it quicker and easier for medical emergency services and others to locate addresses. "It is safe to give an Eircode to anyone you would normally give your address to," he adds.

Truck fire dealt with at Nicholastown

There was some excitement this evening when smoke began to pour from an articulated truck at Nicholastown green. A local resident provided a hose to deal with the matter until the Fire Brigade arrived from Newbridge. Nobody was hurt in the incident.

Be aware of Irish Water meter installation security advice

Irish Water has emphasised that water meter installers will never ask, or need to enter the homes of people where they are installing equipment, writes Brian Byrne.

As the largest current infrastructure project in the country, some 27,000 meters are being installed a month.

Irish Water says water meter installers will wear Irish Water branded clothing and will always carry ID. They will always identify who they are and who they are representing. They will always present their identity card, and their meter installers will NEVER ask to enter the person's home, nor will they ever request money from the householder.

Householders do not need to be at home while the meter box or water meter is being installed. If the householder is at home, the installers will knock on the door to let the householder know that they will be working outside — but there is no reason for the installers to cross the threshold of the home.

Customer communication packs are being delivered into the homes of all houses due to receive a meter box and/or water meter. These communications include a Safety Guide for the householder. If the household has not received this direct communication, there is no reason for any person claiming to be from the Irish Water Metering Programme to call to the premises