Written answers

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plan in place by National Broadband Ireland for the roll-out of full broadband services to north-west County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1731/21]

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plan in place for broadband connections to schools in north-west County Cork; if areas adjacent to schools being considered will be included for connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1732/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across every county in Ireland with over 153,000 premises surveyed as of December last. This is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company.

There are 79,424 premises within the intervention area for County Cork for the National Broadband Plan.  As of 21 December, some 16,132 (20 %) premises have been surveyed in the areas of Carrigaline, Fountainstown, Ballinhassig, Monkstown, and Upper Rochestown.  Surveys have commenced in the area of Rahtmore in North West Cork and 65% of the surveys in the area are now complete.  Further details are available on specific areas across the country including County Cork through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence.

I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.

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. As of 21 December, some 241 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and will be connected with high speed publicly accessible broadband through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development.  Bere Island Heritage Centre, Laharn Heritage Centre, Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre, T.o. Park  Labbamollaga, Ballydaly Community Hall, have now had NBI equipment installed, with more locations planned over the coming months. Further details can be found at .

Clogagh and Ballycroneen National School in County Cork are planned for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just  been announced which will see almost 700  primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at

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