Written answers

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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562. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress since 2011 to provide broadband to a location (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52976/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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, along with 695 schools where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service.

The Question relates to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed on 19 November with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

These premises were originally in the BLUE area, meaning commercial operators had planned to provide high speed broadband to the area. As commercial operators’ plans to serve these premises have not materialised, these premises have now been included in the Intervention area for the NBP following the recent NBP Mapping Consultation. This is why the premises are AMBER dots in a BLUE area

Work has already begun 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 four years.

Approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs), including 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. The BCP locations are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.

The BCPs have been specifically selected by the local authorities so that they can provide public Wi-Fi and other facilities to support mini digital/enterprise hubs to the local community in advance of the main NBP deployment. Broadband Officers in each Local Authority were tasked with consulting with local communities and business to find the appropriate mix of locations to reap the maximum benefits.

By the end of 2021, NBI plans to pass approximately 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. NBI has indicated that the network rollout will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment.

Photo of Lisa ChambersLisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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563. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; and when works will begin to roll out State intervention broadband in County Mayo. [52998/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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, along with 695 schools, where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service.

Following the contract signing on 19 November, work has already begun 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 four years.

By the end of 2021, NBI plans to pass approximately 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. NBI has indicated that the network rollout will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment.

The planned rollout will provide access to high speed broadband to 36,360 premises located in the Intervention Area in Co. Mayo through a combined investment of approximately €145m over 25 years.

Approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs), including schools, library hubs and local sports halls in every county in Ireland, including Co. Mayo, will be connected to high speed broadband during 2020, to enable communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband. The BCP locations are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website .

The BCPs have been specifically selected by the local authorities so that they can provide public Wi-Fi and other facilities to support mini digital/enterprise hubs to the local community in advance of the main NBP deployment. Broadband Officers in each Local Authority were tasked with consulting with local communities and business to find the appropriate mix of locations to reap the maximum benefits.

All BCPs will have a free public Wi-Fi connection, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised. The 12 BCPs planned for deployment in Mayo are:

- Belderrig Community Centre, Belderrig Beg, Co. Mayo, F26KXV6

- Bofeenaun Community Centre, Curraghmore, Bofeenaun, Ballina, Co. Mayo, F26D5W4

- Finny Community Centre, Finny, Clonbur, Co. Mayo, F12Y680

- Islandeady Community Centre, Rinnaseer, Islandeady, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23DK07

- Keel Community Centre, Keel, Achill, Co. Mayo, F28XA33

- Keenagh Community Centre, Keenagh More, Keenagh Beg, Ballina, Co. Mayo, F26X893

- Killala Business Park, Killala, Co. Mayo, F26V8P4

- Killasser Community Centre, Killasser, Swinford, Co. Mayo, F12HH97

- Kilmovee Community Centre, Kilmovee, Ballaghadereen, Co. Mayo, F45WY80

- Clare Island Library, Clare Island Community Centre, Capnagower, Clare Island, Co. Mayo, F28KP99

- National Parks & Wildlife Service, Ballycroy National Park, Lagduff More, Ballycroy, Westport, Co. Mayo, F28XF50

- Taugheen Community Centre, Carrowmore, Tagheen, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, F12F5N7

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