High-speed broadband for all Offaly primary schools

PHOTO: Cllr Frank Moran looked for Wifi connectivity between Clara Bog Interpretative Centre and Clara Boardwalk.

All primary schools in Offaly will have high-speed broadband before the end of the year as part of Offaly County Council’s public WiFi programme.

The monthly meeting of Offaly County Council heard that 60 locations have been chosen for free WiFi around the county. There will be an investment of €300,000 for the free WiFi over five years, through funding drawn down by the council.

It was previously agreed by the council to invest €12,000 per year for broadband provision.

Ray Bell, Offaly Co Council IT manager, outlined that 29 national schools already have been connected to high-speed broadband over the last 18 months and the remaining ones will be connected before the end of the year.

Free public WiFi will be provided in five town centres – Tullamore, Edenderry, Birr, Portarlington and Clara.

“It is a welcome initiative,” Cllr Danny Owens said, particularly the provision of broadband for community centres. “It is a fantastic initiative and will eventually reach into houses all over the county,” he said.

Cllr Frank Moran hoped to have a connection between Clara Interpretative Centre and Clara Boardwalk due to the number of visitors there. Mr Bell said this was something they could look into.

Whether owners of public buildings had made their premises available was questioned by Cllr Declan Harvey.

It was particularly timely, Cllr Sean O’Brien said, as they all had been accelerated into the IT world in recent months due to Covid-19 restrictions. “It has been a saviour for businesses and jobs. A lot of people are working from home, at least part of the week now,” he said.

Businesses will be looking more to use hubs, Cllr O’Brien said, and connectivity is allowing people to do more and more jobs online.

As a chairperson of a community centre, Cllr John Leahy welcomed the move. However, he expressed some concerns about people congregating in groups in areas where there is free WiFi. He also had some concerns about people using car parks of community centres for illegal activity, and said it may be a good idea to limit access at certain times.

“I think it is a very significant achievement,” Cllr Liam Quinn said, on the issue of national schools. “Secondary schools tend to be well looked after as they tend to be in urban areas. But primary schools can be in rural areas and Ray has treated them all the same,” Cllr Quinn said.

The strides on connectivity in Kinnitty were noted by Cllr John Clendennen. At one stage there was no phone signal and they now have broadband connection in the community centre, church and school.

With greater numbers set to visit the Slieve Bloom mountains due to the mountain bike trail, he hoped to see internet coverage there, so emergency services can be contacted.

The scheme has brought Offaly into the 21st century, Cllr Tony McCormack said. He questioned if venues such as O’Connor Park and Tullamore Harriers could be connected. Mr Bell told him that it would be just community centres at the moment.