Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes and businesses connected to high-speed broadband in 2021 under the National Broadband Plan; the number of homes and businesses passed under the scheme; the reasons for delays to date; his plans to ramp up the scheme in the time ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44100/21]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied with the pace of roll-out of the National Broadband Plan; the number of homes expected to have the service available; the actual number achieved at the end of 2020 and to date in 2021; the steps he plans to take to increase the pace of roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44085/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 63 together.

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). In addition , there have been challenges with 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 staffs are at risk of contracting Covid 19 or may have to restrict their movements as a result of being a close contact. 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 for 2021. The impact on future years continues to be assessed.  NBI is putting in place mitigation measures to address the impact of the pandemic on the programme to date. These include

- Increasing the rate of pole replacement and duct remediation per month

- Bringing in more resources to NBI

- Purchasing more materials earlier

- Bringing in more subcontractors

In line with the Programme for Government, NBI and my Department are also engaged in a review of potential measures that can be taken to accelerate the network rollout in parallel with the measures required to mitigate delays arising as a result of Covid-19. My Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of the NBP rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. However, the primary focus must be on addressing the delays which have arisen and ensuring that the build programme gets back on track and is building momentum month on month.

Despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, National Broadband Ireland has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that as of 3 September over 251,000 premises have been surveyed across all counties. Main Fibre Build works are underway in 25 Deployment Areas covering over 105,000 premises.  

I am 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, over 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. As the programme continues to build momentum this figure is expected to grow month on month.

NBI is a wholesale provider which means they make the  network available to Retail Service Providers to connect and provide the service to end users. It is understood that as of 3 September over 2,300 orders have been made with almost 1,500 actually connected. 

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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41. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises connected, not surveyed, to broadband by National Broadband Ireland in counties Roscommon and Galway to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44112/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, National Broadband Ireland has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am 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, over 7,000 premises can also pre-order via retail service providers in those counties and get a connection in the coming months. I am advised that main fibre build works are currently underway in 25 Deployment Areas covering over 105,000 premises. As the programme continues to build momentum these figures are expected to grow month on month. County Galway was one of the first counties to see premises passed and I am advised that to date over 4,000 premises have been passed and are available for connection through retail service providers operating in the area. Build works are also well advanced in other areas of Co Roscommon and I am advised that almost 3,000 premises will be available for connection early next year. In addition, some 460 premises can currently pre-order a connection in Co Roscommon.