Written answers

Wednesday, 2 June 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 11 May 2021, if a property (details supplied) that is not included in the intervention area of the National Broadband Plan and cannot get an adequate service from commercial providers will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29928/21]

Photo of Ossian SmythOssian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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As stated in my reply of 11 May to a Parliamentary Question on this matter, the premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.

BLUE areas are not included in the State 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 has, however, raised a query regarding the premises in question with the service provider to get the current status for the location and has confirmed that the premises is not receiving speeds of 30 Mbps.Officials in my Department are examining a number of premises, including this one, and will ensure that access to high speed broadband is made available, either through commercial means or through the National Broadband Plan intervention. Where appropriate and if compliant with State aid rules, premises may be reclassified as AMBER on the high speed broadband map. Before reclassification of a premises can be confirmed, it must first go through 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. 

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, if appropriate to do so.

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