Mobile phone coverage 'is deteriorating across Mayo'

A mobile phone strategy is needed in Mayo, as businesses face difficulties with coverage.

The suggestion came from Councillor Neil Cruise during a discussion on a digital strategy for the county.

Councillors were told that indications now are that the National Broadband Plan is ahead of schedule, having suffered delays during Covid.

Councillor Cruise said it was good to see the national broadband plan happening, though there are limitations on where it starts and stops.

But down the line they would have to put a national mobile phone strategy in place as coverage in the county is deteriorating, and not getting any better, and multi-nationals are reporting problems with phone coverage.

The worst decision ever made was to sell eircom out of public ownership, he commented.

Crossmolina Councillor Michael Loftus raised broadband connectivity concerns in his town.

He highlighted a local school where they have to go outside with mobile phones in order to forward reports to the Department of Education.

Other people saw cables down their roads but were being told they could be waiting until 2026 or '27.

In his point of view, a strategy document wasn't much benefit to people in his area.

Belmullet Councillor Gerry Coyle highlighted the importance of digitial investment, such as his local gteic, which enables people to stay working and living in the area.

Councillor Peter Flynn agreed the business and social impacts are welcome, where people came work alongside each other in local centres.

And while there are parts of the county which still need to get broadband, there has been significant progress, he noted.