Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expected progress in the delivery of nationwide high speed, high quality broadband over the next five years; the way in which this will contribute to the creation of job opportunities in both rural and urban Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25546/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which the provision of broadband in all areas nationally is progressing; if he anticipates the provision of services to the blank spaces between services within a reasonable time with particular reference to National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25548/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 186 together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed last November. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.

As of 15 September, design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties and steady progress is being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed to date. This activity is increasing week on week and NBI expects to have completed some 120,000 surveys by the end of the year. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is informing design solutions for provision of the fibre 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. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area. The laying of fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected around December this year.

The NBI deployment is expected to be substantially progressed over the next five years with the majority of premises in the intervention area expected to have access to high speed broadband by that time.

Commercial deployment is also progressing with industry investment in telecoms network over the past 5 years of  c.€3bn. 

The National Broadband Plan has delivered significant employment opportunities with NBI directly employing approximately 140 staff and opportunities for employment will increase as NBI expands its activities. Over 500 people are now working on the National Broadband Plan either directly or indirectly.  Design subcontractors (4site, Actavo and Entegro) are working on behalf of NBI and further employment is being provided by build subcontractors (including KN Group, Actavo, TLI and Secto). Nokia are partners with NBI in providing active equipment for the project and ENET are providing infrastructure and services.

Aside from the employment opportunities created from the project itself, the improved connectivity provided by delivery of the NBP has the potential to enhance growth prospects of small and micro businesses and create opportunities for remote working and driving business efficiencies, all of which serve to diversify the rural economy and create further employment opportunities.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 144 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools.

Based on information available at the 15 September, I can advise that the following is the number of premises per County that have been surveyed. I understand that surveying has recently commenced in other counties and will have commenced in all counties by year end.