Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if all second level schools under the national broadband plan attained the 100 Mbs Internet download speed target by the end of 2014; if he will provide a list of all such schools that have not yet reached this target on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34811/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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All second-level schools in Ireland have received 100Mbps broadband connectivity under a programme funded jointly by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. The national rollout of services commenced in 2012, following a successful pilot project, and was completed in 2014. Services were rolled out incrementally, as follows:- 2012 - 14 Western and Midlands Counties

2013 - Dublin, Meath and Kildare

2014 - 9 Southern Counties.

Some 780 schools (including all post-primary, post-leaving certificate, hospital schools, as well as special schools with post-primary students) across the country have a 100Mbps connection. Additionally, 20 Educational Centres have been facilitated with a 100Mbps connection under this programme to help assist with the delivery of Continued Professional Development (CPD) for teachers.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.

On Tuesday 29 September last, the Government approved an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan, which will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention. Combined with commercial investment, this will ensure that 85% of Ireland's premises have high speed broadband by 2018, with 100% coverage by 2020.

The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned. There are over 1,500 schools in the target area for the intervention, most of which are primary schools.

It is intended that the network will be built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. This will allow us to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed services, by 2020 at the latest.