The planned launch of the delayed National Broadband Scheme (NBS) was postponed today after Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan was unavailable to take part.
The scheme, aimed at bringing broadband to currently unserved areas of the country, is due to be completed by mid-2010, but has been hit with a number of delays.
Mr Ryan was due to announce details of the scheme at 11am today. A spokeswoman for Mr Ryan said the delay was due to "ministerial availability", and said an alternative date would be rescheduled. It is understood the events surrounding the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank last night cast doubt on Mr Ryan's availability today.
Mr Ryan said in recent months that broadband availability would be central to Ireland's economic recovery.
The rollout of the scheme is to be conducted according to electoral areas, a move that has prompted opposition parties to warn that it may become a "political football" and accuse the Government of failing to take the broadband issue seriously.
The 2009 budget set aside €45 million in capital funding for the NBS and a programme to deliver high-speed broadband to schools. Further funding is also expected to be made available for the broadband scheme.
In November, mobile operator 3 was announced as the preferred tenderer for the National Broadband Scheme, beating competition from BT Ireland, Eircom and the IFA/Motorola Consortium. It is understood that the contracts have already been signed with the company.
