Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of premises to be covered by the national broadband plan between State intervention and commercial operators, the latest timetable for implementation, the technology that will best future-proof its delivery, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21806/16]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is my first opportunity to congratulate you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on your recent election.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank you.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I look forward to working with you.

I ask the Minister, in light of a recent announcement on the national broadband scheme, the general understanding was that approximately 757,000 homes would be covered by the scheme.

In the Minister's recent announcement, there was an indication that an additional 170,000 houses would be covered. Will the Minister assist the House in identifying what category of homes or business will be covered by that?

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his election and look forward to working with him over this Dáil term.

The national broadband plan is a priority for the Government. The plan is being delivered through a combination of investment by telecommunications operators and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming. This is reflected in the high-speed broadband map at www.. The area marked blue on the map is where commercial providers have previously indicated plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. These represent 1.6 million premises.  The area marked amber is the State intervention area and represents more than 750,000 premises. Individuals can check whether their premises is in a blue or amber area by entering their address or Eircode. They can also e-mail the Department, quoting their Eircode, at 

Last week, I announced that a further 170,000 premises will need to be covered by the State intervention.  Further analysis is being undertaken by my Department to identify the exact location of these premises and to adjust the high-speed broadband map. The Department has moved to the next stage of the procurement process and three qualifying bidders will commence dialogue with the Department next week.  This will be followed by the issue of final tender documents.  The current schedule envisages contracts being awarded by June 2017.  The timing of each stage of the procurement is dependent on several factors, including the complexities that may be encountered during the process. Once contract or contracts are in place, a prioritisation programme will be put in place in consultation with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. A detailed roll-out plan for the network will be published and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is establishing regional action groups, working with local authorities, local enterprise offices, Leader groups and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build.

In line with European Union state aid rules, the process must be "technology neutral".  Bidders will be asked to propose solutions which meet the national broadband plan service requirements, which will include a separate solution for businesses and evidence that the network will be future-proofed to meet the ongoing demands and keep pace with developments elsewhere in the market.  It is recognised that a significant fibre build will be required, regardless of the technology used to provide services to individual premises.  Once the successful bidder or bidders are chosen, the technology to be deployed will be made clear.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As indicated, the Minister intends seeking a solution that provides a minimum of 30 Mbps for the connection speed. Europe has set a target of having a baseline of 30 Mbps connection speed across member states by 2020. It is now clear we will not meet that target as the indication is the national broadband plan will not be rolled out fully until 2022. Does the Minister believe, in light of this, that it might be better to jump ahead to what the European Commission has indicated is the premier benchmark, which is 100 Mbps connection speed by 2020? Rather than going for the baseline, could we be a bit ambitious as we will miss the base deadline anyway? I put to the Minister that he consider in his discussions with the three potential bidders that the 2020 target should be the premium benchmark, as established by the Commission, of 100 Mbps. We might dispense with the underachievement of the level now being spoken about.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's initial question relates to the amending of the blue areas on the map. We announced last week that we would include another 170,000 homes and premises in this. We were given a commitment by the commercial operators which, in fairness, have put a significant amount of money - approximately €2 billion over the past four years - into rolling out the network. Nevertheless, it was clear that most of the approximately 170,000 premises identified by us as in the blue area might have had fibre passing the head of the road but the homes would not be able to get 30 Mpbs broadband. For example, it could be that the exchange is within 1 km as the crow flies but the copper wire could go in a circuitous route. That means the premises would not get those speeds. These are mainly areas within the vicinity of towns and we do not see an additional cost being involved as the build-out will already be taking place.

We could have a significant amount of the rural areas covered in time for the EU objective for 2020. I will not commit to a threshold of 2020 until the contractor or contractors are appointed but from what we are told, many of them seem to be determined to get this rolled out far quicker than we envisage. I do not want to promise people they will get broadband by a specific date but it is not achieved. Deputy Dooley and everybody else knows that we, in rural Ireland, are sick and tired of being promised dates for high-speed broadband only for it not to happen.

On the question of whether the 30 Mbps threshold should be increased to 100 Mbps, we picked 30 Mbps as the minimum required. We have indicated that a higher threshold is required for businesses, which are scattered right across rural Ireland. The solutions put forward by the three preferred bidders are likely to involve much higher speeds than the minimum threshold. It is important that the public understands that currently, there are operators promising up to 100 Mbps but, in reality, the speeds available are dramatically lower. We are saying that 99.95% of the time, people will get a minimum of 30 Mbps. That is a significant threshold and on top of that, businesses will require a much higher threshold. In reality, speeds will be significantly higher. There is a mechanism in the way the contract is structured to review this threshold every three to five years if the requirements exist for higher speeds. That will come about over the 25-year contract.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I accept the Minister's amenable approach to my request but the facts remain that the legal document will request a minimum of 30 Mbps. I accept that contractors are capable of delivering higher speeds but does it not make sense to request what is ultimately required rather than making it something that is nice to have or an option that will probably be taken? The truth is that all they will deliver is the minimum speed with the capacity to scale in time. My concern - I am sure it is shared by the Minister because of his understanding of rural Ireland, which nobody could question - is that we must ensure the people in the rural area covered by this scheme have exactly the same capacity to remain in step with people in the more densely populated areas, where there is greater competition and higher speeds can be delivered much more cheaply. If we are putting in resources now, let us force the companies to deliver the higher speed. Even if the Minister indicated the minimum would be 30 Mbps at the beginning before setting a target by which they had to reach 100 Mbps, I would find some solace in it. We must push the contractors and there is only one opportunity to do that, which is before they sign up.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The European Commission target of delivering 30 Mbps by 2020 is non-binding. Nevertheless, I hear what the Deputy is saying and he is making a strong point.

In fairness, there is unanimity in this House. We might disagree on some minor aspects regarding it but there is unanimity in the House that we need to get this rolled out quickly and that it is future-proofed in terms of the requirements. A tendering process is currently under way. We want to see the highest possible speeds available in the shortest possible time in as many communities as possible. It is our intention to make sure that when the network is being rolled out, it is to every county simultaneously. It is not a case that because Roscommon has the largest proportion of the population which requires high-speed broadband, it will be first or because Monaghan has the second highest proportion, it will be second.

Coincidentally, the two Ministers who are in charge of delivery of this programme come from Roscommon and Monaghan. We are determined, as is every Member of this House, whether from an urban area or a rural area, to roll out a network that is future-proofed and which meets the current and future requirements of home owners and businesses. I am taking note of the Deputy's comments.