Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ensure that schools and other educational institutions in the amber area will be given priority when the national broadband contract has been signed and is rolled out in view of the fact that information and communications technology grants are being provided for information technology upgrades but in many instances no broadband can be accessed in schools in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15549/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Through the 2012 Schools 100Mbps Project all 780+ post primary schools in Ireland now have access to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) high speed broadband. The aim of this project was to ensure that all second level students can enhance their learning experience through digital. 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 2.4 million Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. Today, 74% of premises can access high speed broadband.

The AMBER areas of my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map are the target areas for the NBP State intervention. The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. I will bring a recommendation to Government in relation to the NBP in the coming weeks.

In the event of a contract award my Department will engage with the bidder on the most appropriate deployment which will enable all premises in the intervention area to gain access to a high speed broadband service.

While premises are awaiting the wider deployment, specific premises have been selected for early connection in co-operation with Department of Rural and Community Development, Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) have been identified by local authority broadband officers in every county, including Sligo. These will be prioritised for connection in the first year of deployment and include locations such as schools, community centres and sports clubs. BCPs will provide free public Wi-Fi access to communities awaiting the deployment of the State intervention network.

For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.

Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through Local Authority Broadband Officers is continuing. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.