National Broadband Plan gains planning for third Donegal island

Planning permission has been granted to connect Inishbofin Island to the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) National Fibre Network as part of the “largest telecommunications project ever undertaken by the Irish State.”

Inishbofin Island, located off Falcarragh, is the third Donegal island to be included in the NBI National Fibre Network plan, after Owey Island and Arranmore Island.

The NBI Infrastructure Designated Activity Company successfully applied to Donegal County Council for the installation on Inishbofin Island, at Meenacladdy Lower, of a telecommunications structure comprising a 12-metre-high timber monopole supporting two dishes, along with associated site works and ancillary development works.

A rationale included in the development details stated: “The development is required to carry the broadband data from the new high-speed fibre broadband network on the island to the mainland by radio link, to connect to the NBI National Fibre Network, as part of the Government’s National Broadband Plan to provide high-speed broadband to all parts of the country that are not available commercially, including the islands, at the same data speed.”

National Broadband Ireland said that their plan is completed nationally: “Residents and businesses in the rollout area will be able to connect to a modern, reliable broadband network capable of supporting the communications, information, education, and entertainment needs of current and future generations.”

Donegal County Council approved the planning permission application with eight conditions, imposed to ensure the integrity and preservation of designated EU habitats and their qualifying interests, to preserve the amenities of the area, to prevent flooding, for the interests of orderly development, for the interests of aviation safety, and in order to avoid the proliferation of telecommunications structures in the interest of visual amenity.