Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be available at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43680/21]

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 . 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 (NBI) that, as of 3 September, over 251,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys are complete or underway in County Cork in the areas of Midleton, 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. Pre-works are ongoing in Midleton. I am advised that surveying is underway in the area where the premises referred to is located.

I am also advised by NBI that, as of 3 September over 14,500 homes are passed and available for connection in Counties Cork, Cavan, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan.  In addition, almost 7,000 premises can also pre-order via retail service providers (RSPs) in Counties Cork, Cavan, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan and get a connection in the coming months.

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 . 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.

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 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 connected at Ballydaly Community Hall, Aubane Community Centre, Coláiste Phobal Cléire, Mealagh Valley Community Centre, Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre, Laharn Heritage Centre, Glash Community Centre, T.O. Park Labbamollaga, Courtbrack Community Centre, Clogagh Community Hall, Bere Island Heritage Centre, and Sherkin Island Community Hall. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. 

Ballycroneen National School, Shanbally National School, Ringaskiddy Lower Harbour National School, Educate Together Carrigaline, Clogagh National School, Templebrady National School, and S N Fionan Na Reanna have been installed by NBI for educational access. 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 .