Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

938. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of broadband connection points in County Mayo; if a list of connection points which have gone live and those still in planning will be provided in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4134/21]

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

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of 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.

As of Monday, 25 January 2021, from a total of ten BCP sites in Co. Mayo, six sites are now fully operational. A further three sites have been installed by NBI and are awaiting the installation of WiFi access points by Vodafone Ireland. One site is still in the planning stages.

The table below summarises the status of the BCPs in Co. Mayo.

Vodafone are installing sites on a daily basis and will continue to do so as and when they become available. The location of all BCPs which have been installed or which are planned at any point in time is available on NBI's website, at

In addition to the substantial Government investment already made in the BCPs, an additional €5 million has been allocated to my Department this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for the development of remote working facilities at hubs and BCPs throughout the country. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this scheme shortly.