Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to progress areas still pending survey in mid-Cork under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21551/24]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify with the Minister of State the plan to advance the roll-out of the national broadband plan in areas around Macroom and west of the town, where there are no surveys pending and no expectation of a national broadband plan until 2025 or 2026.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Ireland's digital connectivity strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030. Through the national broadband plan, all sectors will be provided with the connectivity needed to fully exploit digital opportunities, leading to more balanced regional development, while supporting the green transition. There are more than 283,989 premises in County Cork, of which over 82,000, 29%, are within the AMBER area. They will be provided with high-speed broadband through State-led intervention. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland the following in relation to deployment areas in mid-Cork regarding pending surveys which are imminent. Dunmanway survey will commence in May 2024. It is anticipated it will be completed in August 2024. Ballingeary survey will commence in July 2024. It is anticipated that survey will be completed in August 2024. Carriganimmy is to commence in August 2024. It is anticipated that survey will be completed in September 2024.

Also in County Cork, there are five deployment areas that have premises passed: Templemartin, Carrigaline, Midleton, Youghal and Rathmore and one deployment area that is premises build complete, Tallow. There are ten deployment areas that have commenced - Eyeries, Skibbereen, Lauragh, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Kanturk, Meelin and Abbeyfeale. There are six deployment areas that are premises design complete: Dursey Island, Bere Island, Kilcrohane, Schull, Bantry and Killavullen. There is one deployment area that is survey complete, Grenagh, and one deployment area under way, Charleville. As of 30 April 2024, 26,723 premises in the AMBER area in County Cork are passed and available for immediate connection. This means 32% of those premises in County Cork are now covered by the programme.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Locals in the areas of Kilmichael, Ballingeary, Baile Bhuirne, Carriganimmy up towards Aubane asked about the roll-out of the national broadband plan. When they log onto the website and see 2025 or 2026, one can imagine it is frustrating. I appreciate the details the Minister of State has on the different switches in Carriganimmy, Dunmanway and Ballingeary. It is not available to the public when they log on to the website. They look down the Lee Valley towards the city and see other switches were switched on, such as Templemartin, which covered a huge area from Crossbarry to Coachford. That was a positive development. There is another switch in the middle of that area, in Baile Bhuirne, which the Minister of State did not reference. Perhaps he could clarify if the Baile Bhuirne area will be covered by one of the nearby switches in Carriganimmy or Béal Átha an Gaorthaidh.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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As the Deputy said, this information is not available on the website at the moment. When I started in this position, at the launch of the national broadband plan, there was no information beyond two years. If it was beyond two years, it just stated some time between now and 2026. I asked the NBI to provide the exact date or at least to the nearest quarter when it would be provided to tell people what it was, even though it could change. That has been useful and allowed people to plan. If they know they are not getting it until the last year, they know they can use some type of intermediate solution like low earth orbit satellite, other fixed wireless access or some other type of wireless connection. Regarding Ballingeary, I mentioned that the survey will start in July 2024 and complete in August this year. I do not have data on Baile Bhuirne. I will come back to the Deputy on that. If he comes to my office I will give him the answer. That applies to any other area the Deputy is curious about. I will go back to NBI to see if it can provide more detailed information on when surveys are happening. People are curious to know when their area is coming next. We have a very high take-up rate and people do have access.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is right; if the information was available, it would ease some of the stress on people. You look down the valley and you see places the Templemartin switch, which was connected, bringing a fantastic service in areas from Crossbarry, Newcestown, Coachford, An Chúil Dubh and a wide area there. The focus has now been moved up towards the Donoughmore area. On this area, west of the town, if the Minister could give clarity regarding those communities and the opportunity, it would be very positive. At the moment, they look at the website and see a date of 2025 to 2026. I will give the Minister of State the details of the different settlements and parishes, from Aubane, Carriganimmy, Clondrohid, Béal Átha an Gaorthaidh, Baile Bhuirne, Inchigeelagh and towards Kilmichael, Togher, Coppeen and that area as well. Will the Minister of State clarify that?

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I am willing to give the Deputy or any other Deputy information like that if they seek it in particular. About 240,000 homes have now been passed. About one third of the people passed have connected to the service. I expect that will keep rising until about 80% of people passed will connect. We will also reach the halfway mark for the project and will complete by the end of 2026. We will complete on time and on budget.

Later this year we are going to connect to the Black Valley in neighbouring County Kerry, one of the hardest to reach areas in the country for infrastructure. They will have full fibre broadband for everybody in the valley who wants it by later this year, in the next couple of months.