Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of the 275 publicly-accessible broadband connection points promised by the end of 2020 that are now live by county; the number of these that are on offshore islands; when the outstanding points will be connected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34144/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be among the first sites connected under the National Broadband Plan. At present, there are over 200 public access BCP sites scheduled for connection in 2020, in addition to 75 school BCPs. Up to 100 further sites are planned for connection in 2021.

BCPs will be located in some of the most rural and isolated areas in the country, including 10 islands in counties Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Mayo. The sites will be provided with a high-speed broadband service (minimum 150mbps) for the community to use on site.

Initial connectivity is provided via a temporary wireless solution at each site by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company contracted to deliver the National Broadband Plan. Once this equipment has been installed, Vodafone Ireland install Wi-Fi access points and other customer premises equipment.

As of Friday 23rd October, 68 public access BCPs across the country had been installed with Wi-Fi equipment, with new sites being added every day. The table below details the number of installed sites by county. Full details of the BCP locations, both installed and planned, including on the islands, can also be found on NBI's website at .

Once the build phase of the BCP project has completed, officials at my Department will work with the Local Authorities, site owners and a number of other stakeholders to develop the BCP network. I envisage the network to mature over the coming years, providing a range of digitally enabled services including eHealth initiatives, training and education, and connected working.