Written answers

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadband Service Provision

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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615. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress to date in respect of efibre roll-out, with particular reference to Johnstownbridg in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18567/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland 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.

Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at . The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER.

The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.

All premises within the Amber area will be included in the State's intervention.

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.

Based on information provided by commercial operators, 99% of Johnstown Bridge situated in the townland of Carbury will be covered by the commercial sector. The remaining 1% of Johnstown Bridge will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.

More generally I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 54,000 premises to date in Co Kildare with a further 13,500 expected to be served over the next 18 months. The remaining 20,500 premises in Co Kildare are the target for the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan.

Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. In accordance with EU State Aid guidelines, the procurement process will be technology neutral. I intend to launch a consultation on the Intervention Strategy under the National Broadband Plan this summer with a view to moving to formal procurement towards the end of 2015 in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.

I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

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

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll out of the broadband scheme; the time frame of same to maximise growth potentials in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18595/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland 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.

Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at . The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER.

The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.

The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.

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 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.

More generally I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 1.1m premises to date in Ireland with a further 500,000 expected to be served over the next 18 months. The remaining 700,000 premises in Ireland are the target for the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan.

Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. In accordance with EU State Aid guidelines, the procurement process will be technology neutral.

I intend to launch a consultation on the Intervention Strategy under the National Broadband Plan this summer with a view to moving to formal procurement towards the end of 2015 in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.

I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

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

It is envisaged that access to high speed broadband coupled with the measures being introduced under the National Digital Strategy will maximise growth potential in rural areas by encouraging small businesses to make better use of the internet so that they can reach wider markets, grow their business and create jobs.

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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617. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Carrigaline and Douglas in County Cork will be provided with high-speed broadband; if he will provide details of the exact areas in each location that will benefit from high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18608/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland 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.

Last November, I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at . The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.

The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.

Based on information provided by commercial operators, 99% of Carrigaline Middle, 98% of Carrigaline West and 100% of Douglas Co Cork will be covered by the commercial sector. The remaining 1% of Carrigaline Middle and 2% of Carrigaline West, Co Cork will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.

Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.

I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclusively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had meetings with a company (details supplied); the outcome of these meetings; the likely impact of this company's proposed operations on the roll out of broadband nationally, under the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18683/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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As part of the detailed planning phase of the National Broadband Plan, my officials continue to engage with a wide range of industry and stakeholder groups.This engagement process also included a recent meeting with a representative of the company referred to in the Deputy's question.

The meeting afforded my officials an opportunity to outline the scope and detail behind the proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan while the representative from the company concerned outlined its proposed involvement in the Irish broadband market, including a proposal to run a number of pilot fixed wireless projects nationwide. The company has not provided the Department with details of the location of any such pilots. Investment decisions by telecommunications networks providers, including the specific location of particular investments, are of course commercial decisions for the companies concerned.

In delivering this combination of commercial and State-led investment in high speed broadband, my Department continues to engage intensively with all commercial operators. Details of our engagement with industry are provided in monthly updates on the Department's mapping website

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