Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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202. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8746/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. When this Government came into office, this had risen to 52%. Today, 74% of premises can access high speed broadband.

The NBP procurement process is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. I intend to bring a recommendation to Government in relation to the NBP in the coming weeks.