Over 140,000 households are to receive high-speed broadband under a new plan to be announced for the border, midlands and west today.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to announce details of the programme, which will cost in the region of €320m, in Ballaghaderreen later.

The programme promises to support 16,000 small and medium enterprises - as well as provide much needed high-speed internet connections to homes in across the region from Donegal to Galway to Louth.

The plan will run for the next six years, and will be supervised by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

It is hoped the money - along with other support measures such as mentoring, management training and advisory services - will help create 3,600 jobs in directly-supported enterprises.

Its director Gerry Finn says the benefits will be widespread.