Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be rolled out to an area (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [23033/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The area referred to in the Question contains both BLUE and AMBER areas on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie . This map can be searched using eircodes to determine whether particular premises are BLUE or AMBER.· AMBER areas represent the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).· BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.

All premises within the AMBER Area will be surveyed as part of the national fibre network rollout. These surveys are required to produce a detailed network design for the high speed fibre broadband network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose, and is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area.

To date 89,000 premises have been surveyed across 20 counties, including Westmeath, and detailed designs for laying fibre are also in process for areas throughout the country. NBI provides a facility for any premises within the AMBER area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website ().