Written answers

Tuesday, 26 November 2019

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Photo of John BrassilJohn Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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386. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if discussions have taken place between his Department and companies (details supplied) regarding the minimum amount of premises for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48719/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Broadband Plan is the Government's plan to rollout high speed broadband to the 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms and 695 schools, where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service.

The contract to deliver this service was signed with National Broadband Ireland (NBI) on 19 November 2019. Work will begin immediately and a deployment plan will be made available by NBI shortly. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next 4 years.

Approximately 300 community centres, schools, library hubs and local sports halls in every county in Ireland will be connected to high speed broadband during 2020, to enable communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband. A list of these community centres is available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on my Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie which also outlines the scope of the NBP intervention area.

NBI will pass approximately 10,000 premises by the end of 2020. By the end of 2021, NBI plans to pass approximately 115,000 premises. Each year thereafter, approximately 70,000 to 100,000 premises will be passed with the final completion in 2026.

The country will be divided into 110 areas of around 5,000 premises. The subsidy will be paid to NBI in arrears as premises in each of the 110 areas are completed. There is a comprehensive set of protections and legally binding obligations set out in the contract with NBI, which includes a suite of key performance indicators and significant penalties for under performance to ensure the service is maintained appropriately.

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