Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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212. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the full requirement in terms of high speed, high quality broadband is available to hospitals, schools, local authorities and third level educational institutions throughout the country, with particular reference to the need to compete with the best in Europe and worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47674/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen, business and public service provider, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high-speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

Telecommunications networks operators are investing approximately €2.5bn to provide next generation telecommunications services. Access to high-speed retail broadband services is already available in many urban areas. In these and other areas users with specific needs can negotiate access to high-speed broadband services over leased circuits or alternative technologies. In the case of schools the roll-out of high-speed broadband to all post-primary schools has been completed by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. In addition, all 3rd level institutions are provided with high-speed broadband services through the HEAnet's dedicated infrastructure.

On 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high-speed coverage map 2016 was launched. The map can be accessed at . The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high-speed broadband services of at least 30mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State. The map allows all potential users of high-speed broadband services to see whether or not their premises or home is within an area to be served by the commercial market or is included in the Government’s proposed intervention.

This is a complex and ambitious project which aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges for all potential users of high-speed broadband services. It will allow businesses, citizens and public service providers to access high quality, high-speed connectivity regardless of location.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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213. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to upgrade broadband telecommunications infrastructure in an area (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47694/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high-speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high-speed broadband services over the next number of years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.

On the 24th of November last, a public consultation on a national high-speed coverage map 2016 was launched. The map can be accessed at . The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high-speed broadband services of at least 30mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State.

The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises / home will have access to commercial high-speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands in every county in Ireland, including Cavan.

It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.

The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. A detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a potential preferred bidder(s) towards the end of 2015. In this regard the Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost to taxpayers as low as possible. It is expected that the physical build of this network will commence from 2016.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.