Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which the provision of broadband in all areas with particular reference to County Kildare is progressing in line with expectations; if he anticipates the provision of services to the blank spaces between services within a reasonable time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29069/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high speed broadband.

Since December 2015, the number of premises with access to high-speed broadband in Co. Kildare has increased by 10,409. In total, the number of premises in Kildare with access to high speed broadband is now 78,421, which equates to 84% all premises in the county. Another 492 will be served by eir under that company’s ongoing rural deployment of a high speed broadband network.

The remaining 13,956 homes, schools and businesses in Kildare will receive access to high speed broadband under the Government’s National Broadband Plan.

The National Broadband Plan investment in providing high speed broadband to Kildare over the duration of the plan will be in the order of €51 million.

The Bidder has indicated that the NBP State intervention will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment. A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed.

In the first year of roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community based high speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations.

The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises by the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.