Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that this is a critical issue, and that is why the State is investing in this area. I will give a broad outline of what this year's priorities were because these Estimates concern those processes. The contract was signed just less than a year ago. It involves 140,000 km of fibre cable. The primary work done to date has involved surveying. That has involved going to several hundred thousand houses and mapping out how it will be possible to get broadband to them. That process takes a good deal of time.

In the meantime, as was also agreed in the contract, work has also been ongoing regarding the broadband connection points. There are approximately 300 of them and they are often in a community centre, a school, a post office or other similar location. Those are now starting to be delivered and are broadly on time. The first houses will begin to be connected in counties Cork and Cavan at the end of this year and the roll-out will continue in Limerick next year.

NBI and the local authorities are going to send out details to residents. They can only do so, however, 18 months in advance. For people to find out where they will be in 18 months, it is necessary for them to register on for updates, as I mentioned. That is the way in which people can find out the information. I do not have the indicative roll-out plan with me. I told Deputy Crowe earlier that I would try to get the Department to provide details for County Clare.