Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for broadband services to be available in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the status of fibre installation; the position regarding the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37049/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As the House is aware, the National Broadband Plan is an initiative to bring high speed broadband to every premises in Ireland through both commercial deployment and State led intervention.  As of today, 54% of premises in Cavan, and 48% in Monaghan have access to high speed broadband through commercial operators. Those premises that will not be served commercially will be connected as part of the National Broadband Plan State led intervention, the procurement process for which is now in its final stages.

In the interim, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, and the Broadband Officers who operate in every County are pursuing initiatives to improve connectivity for citizens.

Public WiFi is available in Cavan Town, and libraries around the County also offer this service. There are also 2 digital hubs in Cavan. Multiple SMART initiatives are also being pursued, including free computer classes and digital skills training, social media classes and classes that will allow local businesses to operate online more effectively.

Today in Monaghan five of the main towns have free public WiFi available, with 40,000 uses recorded in the last 12 months. Free WiFi is also available in libraries throughout the county, while SMART initiatives such as increased presence of security cameras in Monaghan’s towns and the development of online resources for heritage sites and literary trails are being pursued.

All of these initiatives, and more, show the positive effect the National Broadband Plan has already brought to Counties Cavan and Monaghan and they serve only as a forerunner to the high speed broadband service to be delivered to every household, school and business both in Cavan and Monaghan and throughout Ireland under the National Broadband Plan State led intervention.

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