Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan

Photo of Patricia RyanPatricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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237. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes that will have broadband installed under the national broadband plan by county; the percentage of these homes that have been surveyed to date; the percentage of these homes in which broadband has been installed under the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 546,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The deployment plan forecasts construction commenced in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.

Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020 and which are continuing into this year, NBI has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 March 2021, nearly 194,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed.

A breakdown of the premises in the intervention area by county and surveys undertaken to date is set out in the table below. 

COUNTY number of premises in the IA surveys completed % surveys completed % surveys underway or planned
Carlow 8,190 7,772 95% 5%
Cavan 16,274 3,738 23% 77%
Clare 22,719 3,556 16% 84%
Cork 79,663 22,602 28% 72%
Donegal 32,483 6,389 20% 80%
Dublin 13,677 2,437 18% 82%
Galway 38,887 14,914 38% 62%
Kerry 26,988 16,382 61% 39%
Kildare 14,085 2,818 20% 80%
Kilkenny 18,416 5,951 32% 68%
Laois 12,562 7,934 63% 37%
Leitrim 11,614 3,576 31% 69%
Limerick 21,293 8,583 40% 60%
Longford 8,712 3,294 38% 62%
Louth 8,423 7,850 93% 7%
Mayo 36,614 7,888 22% 78%
Meath 19,824 4,455 22% 78%
Monaghan 15,332 8,863 58% 42%
Offaly 12,216 1,275 10% 90%
Roscommon 19,185 3,591 19% 81%
Sligo 14,875 3,959 27% 73%
Tipperary 29,810 8,643 29% 71%
Waterford 15,048 6,871 46% 54%
Westmeath 11,761 8,656 74% 26%
Wexford 22,552 11,231 50% 50%
Wicklow 15,464 8,285 54% 46%
TOTAL 546,667 191,513 35% 65%

In relation to premises installed with high speed broadband under the NBP, the first fibre to the home connections are successfully connected and in a test and trial phase in Carrigaline, Co Cork and Cavan. I am advised that almost 1,000 homes are passed and available for connection in Counties Cork and Cavan. I understand build works are continuing across the country in 9 Deployment Areas which cover some 34,000 premises. Pre build works are also underway in 18 Deployment Areas that cover 64,000 premises.

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