Dundalk cllr pushes for more staff to help enable rollout of 4G and 5G coverage

Dundalk-Carlingford's Cllr John Reilly tabled a motion at the Dundalk Municipal District July meeting, calling on Louth County Council to "deploy sufficient staff to process applications from telecommunications companies in the rollout of 4G and 5G coverage throughout north Louth".

Cllr Reilly told members present that the issue of poor mobile coverage in large parts of north Louth needed to be addressed by different telecommunications companies.

He said that there is a plan to phase out the 3G signal in the next two years but added that areas in north Louth from Hackballscross to Omeath are still only able to receive 3G signal. 

Cllr Reilly went on to say that telecommunication companies are currently drawing up plans for a major revamp of the mobile signal in north Louth, which will include booster polls which are approximately 18m in height can relay signal up to two square kilometres and can currently be licensed by a 252 planning application, and also, in the Cooley Peninsula in particular, need more larger infrastructure which requires full planning applications.

The Fine Gael councillor added that he believes the issue requires "appropriate staffing going forward for a proper digital strategy to be implemented, not only in north Louth but throughout the county."

Cllr Reilly was told in response that the Council “absolutely welcomes” the applications from the telecommunication companies to improve the coverage throughout the county but staffing in the local authority is a matter for the Executive.