John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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584. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the comprehensive implementation strategy for the fibre build-out to locations in every county in the State identified as having no existing or planned enabling fibre network; if the project is on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2568/15]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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585. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress of delivering high-speed broadband to the 1,000 rural communities identified as target areas for fibre based connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2569/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 585 together.

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 two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.

On the 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. This consultation will end on the 12th February, 2015. 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 30 Mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State and include almost all of the target villages identified in April 2014. At least one operator has since extended its roll out programmes and committed to providing high speed broadband in a small number of these communities.

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

In tandem with the mapping consultation, intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy. The strategy will address a range of issues in relation to the intervention including the optimum procurement model, ownership model for the infrastructure, intervention cost and likely market impact. My Department is finalising the appointment of external advisors to provide legal, economic, technical and financial advice on the various aspects of the Plan over the next two years. The next steps in this process will see a further public consultation on a detailed intervention strategy in mid-2015. The Intervention strategy will be notified to the European Commission for State Aid clearance.

Following the public consultation, towards the end of this year a detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders. The Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost of the network build 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.