Almost 7,500 rural homes in Offaly set to benefit from escalated delivery of fibre broadband

ALMOST 7,500 homes, farms and businesses in the rural surrounds of Banagher, Birr and Tullamore deployment areas are being moved to an earlier completion date in 2025 for the delivery of fibre broadband than had been originally scheduled.

The developed was revealed by Independent TD Carol Nolan who was informed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company responsible for delivering the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP).

Deputy Nolan had previously been informed in a parliamentary reply in October 2024 from Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Ossian Smyth, that the Birr Deployment Area covering 1,853 premises, was not anticipated to receive high speed Fibre Broadband until some point between January 2026-December 2026.

However, NBI now inform the Independent TD that the 7,500 homes and businesses included in its revised scheduling will mean they will be able to avail of a connection to NBI’s network up to four months sooner than previously anticipated:

“I very much welcome this positive development given the totally unacceptable delays that homes and businesses in Offaly have had to endure,” said Deputy Nolan.

“We need to see this escalated pace of delivery continue. I have made this issue a particular focus with NBI and with Government and I will continue to do so until all homes and premises in Offaly that want and need access to high-speed fibre broadband are connected,” concluded Deputy Nolan.