David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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206. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposed timelines for completion of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in an area (details supplied); the plans to designate a property as a broadband connection point under the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43616/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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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. My Department has prioritised primary schools with no high speed broadband and continues to work with the Department of Education in this regard.An acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan will see some 677 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by the end of 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. It is expected that well in excess of 200 will be installed by the end of this year with all 677 schools connected by end 2022. Clondulane National School in County Cork is included as part of this initiative, and is scheduled to be connected in 2022. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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207. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be available for residents in County Tipperary through National Broadband Ireland by municipal district in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43650/21]

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.There are 84,374 premises in County Tipperary of which 54,564 are in the commercial area and 29,810 premises are within the NBP Intervention Area. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 3 September 2021, over 251,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. In County Tipperary, premises have been surveyed or surveys are ongoing in Tipperary, Aherloe, Ballinalard, Bansha, Roscea and surrounding townlands, Cashel, Townspark, Boherlahan, Goolds Cross, Knockavilla, Garrenroe, Camus Bridge, Golden, Shanballa, Dogstown, Racecourse Cross, Rosegreen, Knockbrett, Mayfield, Boscobell and Dualla. Main build works commenced in Tipperary and the surrounding townlands of Aherloe, Ballinalard and Bansha. Pre-build works have commenced in areas around Clonmel.

There are some 21 Deployment Areas covering Tipperary and the following table shows the Deployment Areas in Tipperary where NBI currently has surveying underway, surveying complete, or build underway. The other DA’s are pending survey.  

While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network resulting in delays on delivery of aspects of the programme. Impacts include challenges with mobilisation of key contractors with restrictions on operations, supply chain and logistic delays (both nationally and internationally), as well as the recruitment of key personnel as NBI and its contractors scale, up including challenges associated with on-boarding and training people. Inevitably, like many other organisations, NBI and contractor staff are at risk of contracting Covid 19 or may have to restrict their movements as a result of being a close contact posing further challenges. My Department has worked closely with NBI to put in place a remedial plan under the Contract to address the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic on the project.

​Further details are available on specific areas within Tipperary 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 3 September, 366 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 Killoscully Community Centre, Fanure Community Hall, Moyglass Community Hall, The Apple Farm, The Apple Camping & Caravan Park, Drom Community Centre, Boher Parish Hall, Ballinahinch Community Centre, Burgess GAA Club, Killurney Community Centre, Curreeney Community Hall, Rossmore Community Hall, Killea GAA Club, Aglish Community Hall and Lismackin Community Hall.

Poulacapple National School, Leugh National School, Killea National School and Killeen 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 nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/