Communitiesstill withoutbroadband50 days afterStorm Eowyn

Homes and businesses in the north Meath area are suffering as a result of being left without broadband 50 days after Storm Éowyn.

That's according to Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade who said the lack of broadband and phone connection in the Rathkenny, Lobinstown and Drumconrath areas has led to significant business losses, increased local robberies, inoperable CCTV cameras, and critical issues for elderly residents who cannot use their panic buttons.

Meade is calling for government action, emphasising the essential nature of these services in modern society and criticising the lack of accountability from service provider Eircom which he says has repeatedly delayed service restoration.

“It is today, 50 days since we had the storm back in January, and many of the houses and businesses I represent across North Meath are still without broadband and still without phone connection and this has had dramatic effect,” said the Fine Gael councillor.

“People normally, when they're out for a day or two, can see how awkward it is, but this has led to businesses now losing serious business across our area with a spate of local robberies.

“It has led to houses not having working CCTV cameras and it has led to in two occasions where elderly people required to press their panic buttons, their panic buttons not working and haven't worked for the last 50 days.”

“I called previously on government and on ministers to take action here because it appears there is no one accountable and there needs to be. Electric, water, phone and broadband connection are now essentials in human society.

“They're essentials for the businesses and people across North Meath, who for the last 50 days now have had no connection.

And week on week we receive emails and text messages from Eircom telling us it will be five days more, ten days more.

“At this stage, I'm wondering, is it 50 days more? Because who could believe it's been 50 days at this point, it could be another 50. We don't know. There needs to be action here.”

Eir has been contacted for comment