elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 4: Infrastructure and Services
At national level these include:
• Sustainable Development – A Strategy for Ireland, DOE, 1997.
• National Spatial Strategy, 2000–2020 People, Places and Potential, DOELG, 2002.
• Wind-farm Development, Guidelines for Planning Authorities, DOE, 1996.
• The National Climate Change Strategy, DOELG, 2000.
• Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures, Guidelines for Planning Authorities,
DOE, 1996.
• Green Paper on Sustainable Energy, DPE, 1999.
• Strategy for Intensifying Wind Energy Development, DPE, 2000.
The regional context is provided by the:
Regional Planning Guidelines for the West, 2004 – 2016, which are being reviewed.
4.7.2 Physical Context
1. Broadband
The implementation of broadband is under the auspices of the Department of Communications, Marine
and Natural Resources. There are three programmes in place to ensure the delivery of Broadband within
the country. Roscommon County Development Board (RCDB) has identified the provision of Broadband
as vital for development in the County and has formulated a Broadband Strategy i.e. ‘The Rollout of
Broadband in County Roscommon’.
The main modes of delivery of Broadband throughout the country are DSL via phone lines, Wireless
Broadband and Satellite Communication. Wireless service providers include Last Mile Broadband, and
Azotel-Brisknet. FWA is available in a number of areas with transmitters centered in Athlone,
Ballinlough, Ballyleague, Boyle, Knockcroghery and Strokestown. Elphin is also serviced by FWA.
2. Mobile Phone Network Development
It is a policy of the Council to achieve a balance between facilitating the provision of telecommunications
services, in the interests of social and economic progress, and sustaining residential amenities including
public health, whilst maintaining a quality environment. The Telecommunications policy for the County
shall be based on the recommended Guidelines for Planning Authorities with regard to
Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures (1996). This policy encourages co-sharing and
clustering of masts.
4.7.3 Telecommunications Strategy
The Telecommunications Strategy for Elphin aims to promote the provision of high quality and capacity
telecommunications infrastructure in the area, to ensure the development of a more vibrant commercial
core in the town, which is essential.
Policies in relation to Telecommunications Infrastructure
Policy 41
Promote an integrated approach with service providers and with appropriate bodies in the
creation of a modern telecommunications infrastructure in the Elphin area.
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 35