Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to put an adequate broadband service in place for a school (details supplied). [44389/21]

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 now 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. My Department has consulted with the Department of Education and the new school Gaelscoil Thromaire will be included in this programme. While the school has been prioritised for connection, further investigation is required by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) before a timeline for connection can be given. The new school building will need to be surveyed and a technical solution proposed.

I understand that as an interim measure, the Department of Education is arranging for an existing retail service provider in the Schools Broadband programme to provide a temporary connection to the new school site, while NBI’s work is being progressed.