Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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280. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration is being given to introducing more flexibility in the National Broadband Plan to allow National Broadband Ireland to connect commercial premises that may already have a limited broadband connection to connect to the new fibre optic cables that in many cases pass adjacent to these existing industrial locations but cannot be connected despite existing broadband options for such facilities failing to meet the capacities required for such industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20321/21]

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 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools ensuring no premises is left behind. The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the areas which will be included in the NBP State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode.Commercial areas defined as BLUE on the NBP map are not included in the State led intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard as they operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by ComReg as independent regulator.

Complaints about service provision are a matter between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.

In the event that, having exhausted the above options, a premises located in the BLUE area still cannot get high speed broadband from service providers in the area, they should contact my Department at broadband@decc.gov.iewith full details and the matter will be investigated by my officials. The NBP High Speed Broadband Map is dynamic. This means that the intervention area can be updated to reflect new commercial plans, or previous plans that have failed to materialise. This flexibility allows for an increase or decrease in the number of premises included in the State Intervention area. Any changes to the map are subject to a formal review process. This is to ensure that the State is compliant with State Aid rules and the State aid approval which enabled the contract to be awarded under the National Broadband Plan. 

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if National Broadband Ireland will hold discussions with Eir in order to provide broadband to premises in cases in which Eir fibre broadband infrastructure is bordering an amber area under the National Broadband Plan and in which there is sufficient capacity to accommodate more premises on this line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20353/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode.

- Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.

My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. Eir’s rural deployment of high speed broadband is a commercial undertaking and is not part of the planned State Intervention. Their operations are not funded by the State and are not planned, designed or directed by my Department in any capacity. The decision as to the areas and premises served is made by eir internally and on a commercial basis. They operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by ComReg as the independent regulator. My Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that process. 

I understand that NBI are engaging with eir and the wider market to seek solutions for a number of categories of premises and that this includes those premises that are close to the eir rural fibre network. I am advised that it is expected that this will be progressed over the coming months.

I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when National Broadband Ireland will commence its survey at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/21]

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when National Broadband Ireland will commence its survey at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20441/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together.

The Questions refer to premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.

I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway. 

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 15 April 2021, over 204,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Cork  premises have been surveyed  or are ongoing  including in the areas Midelton, Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfoyle, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon, Kilpatrick, Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Umeraboy, Knocknagree, Rineen, Cullen, Coolinarna, Millstreet, Hollymount and Caherbarnagh.  Main works are ongoing in  Carrigaline, Fountainstown, Ballinhassig, Monkstown, and Upper Rochestown and  preworks are ongoing in Midleton.

In terms of the area referred to in the Question, I am not in a position to confirm when surveys are due to commence. Further details are available on specific areas within 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 as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

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 15 April, 302 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for schools. BCP sites installed in Cork  are Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre (located c. 10 Kilometres from both premises) and T.O. Park Labbamollaga. Further details can be found at

Clogagh and Ballycroneen National School are planned as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise 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 was announced in December which will see some 679 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 .

Photo of Emer HigginsEmer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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285. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the townlands in which surveying has been completed in relation to the National Broadband Plan; the townlands in which surveying is underway currently; the townlands in which it is planned to conduct surveying before the end of 2021, by county in tabular form; if he will report on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20469/21]

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. 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 12 April 2021, over 204,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed and that build and pre-build works are underway across a number of deployment areas. The first fibre to the home connections have been successfully connected and are in a test and trial phase in Carrigaline, Co Cork and Cavan. I am advised that over  2,300 premises are passed and available for connection in Counties Cork and Cavan.

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 22,765 29% 71%
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 2,848 20% 80%
Kilkenny 18,416 5,951 32% 68%
Laois 12,562 9,464 75% 25%
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 8,281 23% 77%
Meath 19,824 4,455 22% 78%
Monaghan 15,332 10,644 69% 31%
Offaly 12,216 1,275 10% 90%
Roscommon 19,185 6,930 36% 64%
Sligo 14,875 3,959 27% 73%
Tipperary 29,810 8,643 29% 71%
Waterford 15,048 10,240 68% 32%
Westmeath 11,761 8,656 74% 26%
Wexford 22,552 11,231 50% 50%
Wicklow 15,464 10,459 68% 32%
TOTAL 546,667 204,292 37% 63%

Further details can be found on the NBI website at the following location .

Photo of Emer HigginsEmer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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286. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the townlands in which the construction or build out phase has started in relation to the National Broadband Plan; the townlands in which construction will commence before the end of 2021; the number of premises that have been connected; the percentage that these comprise of the total number in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20470/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020, which have continued 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 15 April 2021, over 204,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed and that over 92,000 premises are under construction with either pre-works or main construction works underway.  The first fibre to the home connections have been successfully connected Counties Cork and Cavan. I am advised that, as of 15 April, 2,322 premises are passed and available for connection in Cork and Cavan.

I am further advised that NBI continue to work to provide more detail on its website and have included a rolling update on network build plans. Further details can be found on the NBI website at the following location . This will outline the most up to date information available on the programme. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

A breakdown of the areas under construction is set out in the table below. It should be noted that dates and phases of progress below are subject to change due to ongoing challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deployment Area (DA) Counties Covered in DA Status of Deployment Area Anticipated Date for Connection Number of Premises
Cavan Cavan Network Build In Progress January 2021 – May 2021 3,738
Carrigaline Cork Network Build In Progress March 2021 – June 2021 4,615
Galway Galway Network Build In Progress April 2021 – June 2021 3,502
Ballinasloe Galway/ Roscommon Network Build In Progress June 2021 – August 2021 3,307
Limerick Limerick/ Clare Network Build In Progress June 2021 – August 2021 4,075
Tralee Kerry Network Build In Progress July 2021 – September 2021 3,167
Monaghan Monaghan Network Build In Progress July 2021 – September 2021 4,355
Wexford Wexford Network Build In Progress August 2021 – October 2021 3,745
Killarney Kerry Network Build In Progress August 2021 – October 2021 3,382
Roscommon Roscommon/ Galway Network Build In Progress August 2021 – October 2021 3,591
Tipperary Tipperary/ Limerick Network Build In Progress August 2021 – October 2021 3,316
Dundalk Louth/ Monaghan Network Build In Progress August 2021 – October 2021 2,770
Sligo Sligo/ Leitrim Network Build In Progress August 2021 – October 2021 2,513
Kilcoole Wicklow Network Build In Progress September 2021 – November 2021 2,836
Castlebar Mayo Network Build In Progress September 2021 – November 2021 2,139
Mullingar Westmeath Network Build In Progress October 2021 – December 2021 4,109
Blessington Wicklow/ Kildare/ Dublin Network Build In Progress October 2021 – December 2021 4,959
Carlow Carlow/ Laois/ Kildare Network Build In Progress October 2021 – December 2021 3,544
Midleton Cork Network Build In Progress November 2021 – January 2022 8,446
Skerries Dublin/ Meath Network Build In Progress November 2021 – January 2022 2,437
Ballina Mayo/ Sligo Network Build In Progress December 2021 – February 2022 2,678
Clonmel Tipperary/ Waterford Network Build In Progress January 2022 – March 2022 2,143
Gort Galway/ Clare Network Build In Progress January 2022 – March 2022 2,618
Waterford Waterford/ Kilkenny Network Build In Progress November 2021 – January 2022 6,351
Drogheda Louth / Meath Network Build In Progress January 2022 – March 2022 4173

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