Broadband is urgently needed in rural Ireland. MEP Candidate Brendan Smith T.D.

Day in, day out canvassing has strengthened my commitment  to fight for EU assistance in bringing quality broadband to rural Ireland who have been starved of this service.

One issue raised by all sectors of society across Midlands-North-West is access to broadband.

Farmers, families, businesses highlighted to me the need for this essential infrastructure. Indeed, students, including those studying for their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams said it was wrong that they should be without broadband.

If elected as the MEP for this constituency I will seek immediate assistance from the EU to meet the cost and of providing proper access to quality Broadband. The lack of access to Broadband in Leitrim and other rural areas is causing critical problems. It is impossible to set up companies and create sustainable jobs as Broadband is an essential infrastructure. Something must be done now.

We need a fund, similar to the Social Fund that supported strategic infrastructure work, to be carried out in Ireland some years ago. By providing this strategic infrastructure fund to help Ireland sort out the Broadband problem, the EU will also be contributing to generating sustainable jobs throughout the country and improving access for those in rural areas to vital health and safety services.

I thank the people I met in Leitrim for their courtesy and generosity of time during the canvass this week.