Written answers

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

National Broadband Plan

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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846. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of premises forecasted to be covered by the national broadband plan and by commercial high-speed broadband services, by county, in tabular form, inclusive of the further 170,000 premises which are currently marked BLUE on the high-speed broadband map and which are unlikely to get access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26444/16]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming. The formal procurement process for the State Intervention commenced in December 2015. The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ieshows the extent of the State Intervention area:

The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services.  My Department continues to monitor the commercial deployment plans in the BLUE area to ensure that those services are delivered and will, if necessary, include additional premises in the formal procurement process where it is evident that services will not be provided by the commercial sector.

The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention, which are the subject of the current procurement process. Premises within this area will get services of at least 30Mbps when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.

The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county.  Individuals can check whether their premises is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by scrolling through the map online or entering their Eircode.

The county breakdown for the National Broadband Plan Intervention is set out in the table below, with the percentage of premises to be covered by the Intervention and through commercial investment also listed. 

County NameNumber of Premises Covered by National Broadband Plan Intervention% Premises within the NBP Intervention AreaNumber of Premised covered/planned by commercial operators% Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area
Carlow 10,555 39% 16,85161%
Cavan 24,197 57% 18,17543%
Clare 34,501 51% 33,65749%
Cork 85,972 32% 181,78268%
Donegal 52,004 52% 48,51448%
Dublin 8,295 1% 572,05399%
Galway 62,540 47% 71,27553%
Kerry 51,180 57% 38,82443%
Kildare 20,536 23% 67,79177%
Kilkenny 22,455 47% 25,31753%
Laois 16,201 42% 22,56058%
Leitrim 13,326 60% 8,99040%
Limerick 33,963 35% 63,69865%
Longford 11,691 52% 10,89148%
Louth 15,129 25% 45,01575%
Mayo 50,831 60% 33,33640%
Meath 31,171 38% 51,38462%
Monaghan 19,551 58% 13,91442%
Offaly 17,130 47% 19,58753%
Roscommon 24,856 64% 14,26936%
Sligo 18,605 47% 21,28153%
Tipperary 41,207 49% 43,36851%
Waterford 17,897 29% 43,09871%
Westmeath 17,814 40% 26,56360%
Wexford 39,308 49% 40,20251%
Wicklow 16,574 26% 46,25074%
Totals: 757,489 32% 1,578,64568%

Over 750,000 premises are the focus for the procurement process, which formally commenced in December 2015 with the publication of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (‘PQQ’) and Project Information Memorandum.  On 5 July, I announced that my Department has identified that up to 170,000 premises which are currently marked BLUE on the High Speed Broadband Map are unlikely to get access to services. Further analysis is being conducted by my Department to identify these premises with a view to including them in the formal procurement process.  This mapping work will conclude in the next few months and the map will be updated to reflect the changes arising.

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