Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for national broadband roll-out in the area of Meentulla, Murroe, County Limerick; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the urgency of the roll-out is now more critical than ever, as the only company that can supply a sufficient broadband strength of 7mb in the locality is now withdrawing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33354/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, 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.

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 17 June 2021, over 226,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Limerick, premises have been surveyed or surveys are ongoing in the areas of Pallaskenry, Toreen, Old Kildimo, Askeaton, Adare, Croagh, Rathkeale, Kilfinny, Croom, Ballingarry, Patrickswell, Crecora, Banogue Cross, Granagh, Lees Cross, Ballykennedy and in outlying parts of the city, including Killalee, Caherline and Ballynanty. Main works are ongoing in townlands outside Limerick City including Mungret, Patrickswell, Crecora, Castleconnell and Caherconlish. The area of Meentulla, Murroe is located in the Intervention Area and will be provided with access to highspeed broadband under the NBP.

The first fibre to the home connections are successfully connected in Cavan and in Carrigaline, County Cork. I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 June, nearly 4,400 homes are passed and available for connection in both Counties Cork and Cavan. A further 15,000 premises can also pre-order via retail service providers (RSPs) in Counties Cork, Cavan, Galway and Limerick and will be able to get a connection in the coming months.

Further details are available on specific areas within Limerick 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 when works are due to commence.

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 17 June, 325 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible locations and the Department of Education for schools. BCPs installed with high speed publicly accessible broadband include Cappamore Community Centre (6.68km from Meentulla), Caherline Community Centre, Glenmore Community Centre, Coolcappa Community Centre, Galbally GAA Club, Glenroe GAA Club, Kildimo GAA Club, and Patrickswell GAA Club.

Gerald Griffin National School, Anglesboro National School, Knocknadea National School, Limerick East Educate Together National School, Coolcappa National School, Killinure National School, Tinnatarriff National School and Mountcollins National School are installed 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 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 .

I note from the Question that a service provider in the area intends to withdraw its service, however, I understand that access to broadband should still be available through another existing service provider pending roll out of the National Broadband Plan in the area.