Written answers

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadband Service Provision

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals there are to improve broadband telecommunications service in an area (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if he is aware that households and many small enterprises have concerns regarding the totally inadequate service that exists at present; if the necessary investment programme will be undertaken without further delay to bring this broadband service up to a proper standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10794/16]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals there are to improve broadband telecommunications service in an area (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if he is aware that households and many small enterprises have concerns regarding the totally inadequate service that exists at present; if the necessary investment programme will be undertaken without further delay to bring this broadband service up to a proper standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10795/16]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals there are to improve broadband telecommunications service in an area (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if he is aware that households and many small enterprises have concerns regarding the totally inadequate service that exists at present; if the necessary investment programme will be undertaken without further delay to bring this broadband service up to a proper standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10855/16]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 217 together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.

It is expected that 70% of all premises in Ireland will receive high speed services from the commercial telecommunications market. The remaining 30% (over 750,000 premises) are the focus of a major State procurement, which formally commenced in December 2015 with the publication of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire ( 'PQQ') and Project Information Memorandum.

The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at shows the extent of the State Intervention area. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The areas marked AMBER represent the target areas for the State Intervention and includes the townlands of Drumhawan and Corcaghan County Monaghan. Based on information provided by commercial operators 91% of the townland of Doohamlet will be covered by commercial operators while the remaining 9% will be part of the State Intervention. Members of the public can view whether their premises in  Monaghan are in the BLUE or AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode. 

In terms of the procurement process, five responses have been received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March 2016. The five responses are being assessed in line with the criteria set down by the Department with a view to shortlisted qualified bidders proceeding to the next stage of procurement.  

The second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders. I expect that my Department will move to this stage in the next month.  

The third stage of the procurement process involves the issue of final tender documentation which follows the dialogue process. Following the submission of final tenders by bidders, a winning bidder(s) will be selected for the contract(s). The tender process includes two land areas, with a broadly equal number of premises in each. Bidders can bid for both areas separately, as well as providing a single bid for the entire area. Once winning bidder(s) have been selected, the Department will enter into formal contract negotiations with the winning bidder(s). It is expected that a contract will be awarded by June 2017. 

Rollout will commence once the contract is in place. Based on industry consultations, it is expected that 85% of all premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband within 2 years after rollout commences, with 100% being connected within 5 years or sooner.

As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best rollout strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and / or high demand. This will need to be balanced with the most efficient network rollout plan.  

I am in discussion at present with Minister Heather Humphreys on the detailed arrangements to give effect to commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government regarding her Department’s role in relation to the rollout phase of the National Broadband Plan. It is envisaged that the role will include leading on the establishment of county or regional broadband taskforces and working with local authorities, Local Enterprise Offices, LEADER Groups and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once a contract(s) has been awarded.

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