David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 21 April 2021, if there are timelines in place for the commencement of the build works in the area; and when a property will be connected to broadband (details supplied). [39709/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Question refers to a 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 understand that this housing estate is a relatively new build and that neighbouring areas can access a high speed broadband service from commercial operators. The NBI website 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. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. I am advised that NBI plan to update their website with further details on the NBP rollout plan for all counties, including Waterford, at the end of August. 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 21 July, 336 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 school BCPs. BCP’s are installed at Knockanore Community Centre, Modeligo Community Hall, Mount Melleray Community Hall and Ballysaggart Community Centre. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. 

Whitechurch National School, Faithlegg National School, Ballycurrane National School, Fenor National School and Saint Mary's National School are  connected 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 nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.