Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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930. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each broadband connection point planned in County Kerry on the National Broadband Plan in tabular form (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4423/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first sites to be connected under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). These sites are typically located in rural and isolated areas, including our off-shore islands.

Sites are provided with a wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company contracted to deliver the NBP in the State intervention area. Vodafone Ireland then install the customer premises equipment (control boxes/switches and wifi access points) which enables broadband services to be provided.

Nine sites have been selected by Kerry County Council to act as publicly accessible BCPs in the county. Of these, three have been fully installed. Of the remaining six sites, five have the initial connectivity installed through NBI and are awaiting the installation of WiFi access points by Vodaphone Ireland. The final BCP is still in the planning stages.

The table below sets out the current status of each of the BCPs in the county. In addition, there will be three school BCPs connected in Co. Kerry.

While NBI and Vodafone Ireland are continuing to connect BCPs on a daily basis, it is not possible, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and current public health guidelines, to provide definitive dates for the connection of those BCPs which have yet to be fully installed.

An additional €5 million has been allocated to my Department this year for the development of remote working hubs, including at BCPs where appropriate. I hope to be in a position to announce the details of this scheme shortly.