Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Broadband Service Provision

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will go live in an area (details supplied) in view of the fact that the physical infrastructure has now been rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50305/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that today over 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by the end of 2018 and to 90% (2.1m premises) by the end of 2020. 

In April 2017 I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide broadband to an additional 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis.  A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.  The townland referenced in the Question comprises around 17 premises all of which form parts of this deployment. 

Whilst the full programme of work is due to be completed by the end of 2018, more precise information on the timeframe for rollout is available from eir's website on .  Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available from eir at .  Citizens can access this website to determine the connectivity availability status for their premises using their eircode.  The website also provides a list of retail service providers who offer services using high speed fibre network in the area. 

I recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland and the frustration for communities that do not currently have access to this level of connectivity.  Delivering connectivity under the NBP remains a Government priority.  My Department is in regular contact with eir in relation to the Commitment Agreement and will continue this engagement with the aim of ensuring the requirements of the Commitment Agreement are met.

Quarterly updates on progress of  eir's 300k rollout will continue to be published on my Department's website available at http://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/County%20Statistics.pdf which includes a full set of county statistics. My Department recently concluded that eir has met its Quarter 3 target and that its target of 101,000 premises were passed on a national basis as at the end of September 2017.

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