Large-scale infrastructural investment will be required to secure the future prosperity of Conamara – but it could be planning permission and not funding that presents the greatest challenge.

That was the warning of the Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltacht, Tomás Ó Síocháin, who told the Connacht Tribune that reliable internet and electricity connections required pylons and infrastructure that often became entangled in complex planning disputes.

Following the launch of the Údarás End of Year Statement for 2024 this week, Mr Ó Síocháin said to continue to attract jobs and investment to the Conamara Gaeltacht, significant investment would be required.

This comes after two weeks of electricity and broadband blackouts in the area in the wake of Storm Éowyn, with many places left without even phone signal.

The Údarás report shows there were at total of 3,774 people employed in its client companies in Conamara at the end of 2024 – an increase of 4% on last year.

To continue that growth, Mr Ó Síocháin said reliable infrastructure would be critical.

“As well as Storm Éowyn, we had significant difficulties after the snow in November when there was also a large number of areas left without not only power, but fibre broadband and phone coverage – and water.

“To improve infrastructure, there will be a need for additional pylons, poles, fibre cables and you really need community buy-in for that – and people need to understand why it’s required,” he said.

It was securing planning permission that often scuppered progress on infrastructure, continued Mr Ó Síocháin.

“Anybody can look at the planning records and they will see that, in Conamara, investment in infrastructure projects of scale is not able to progress because of planning,” he added.

Caption: Tomás Ó Síocháin.

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