Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

268. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has met with the National Broadband Ireland team in January 2021 regarding the challenges facing rural broadband. [6176/21]

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

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 540,000 premises across the State, primarily in rural and isolated areas.  These premises include homes, farms, community and health facilities, schools, and businesses.  

The impact of the NBP rollout will be transformational for rural Ireland in terms of supporting both local economies and sustainable communities.  

Responsibility for the rollout of broadband to rural areas under the NBP is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan T.D. National Broadband Ireland has been contracted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver the Plan in the State intervention area.

I did not meet with National Broadband Ireland in January 2021.  However, as Minister for Rural and Community Development I closely follow developments on the rollout of the NBP and I am hoping to meet with representatives of NBI before the end of this month to get an update on the progress of the project.  

There have been positive developments even in the last week, with the first high-speed broadband connections taking place in counties Cork and Cavan.  I also welcome the fact that NBI are investigating options for accelerating the rollout of the NBP.

These developments demonstrate the Government's commitment to providing access to high-speed broadband to all premises across Ireland as quickly as possible, opening up a new range of opportunities and possibilities for rural businesses and communities.