Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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109. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the new rolling timelines for the provision of the national broadband plan; the steps that are now being introduced to ensure no further slippage to the schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10482/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan target for 2022 will be provided; the key milestones for 2022, considering the targets for 2021 were not achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10263/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which adequate progress is being made in the provision of broadband to all locations throughout the country, with particular reference to the need to provide services in areas previously not serviced and keeping in mind the need to provide for job creation on an even basis throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10448/22]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an update will be provided on the national broadband plan, including the targets to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10259/22]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises passed by the roll-out of the national broadband plan to date compared with the number that were originally planned to be passed by February 2022; the projected number of premises that will be passed by the end of the year under the roll-out compared with that originally planned; the actions he is taking to ensure all the targets of the roll-out are achieved; the penalties that will be incurred by National Broadband Ireland for failure to adhere to the schedule it agreed contractually with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10466/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 111, 134, 156 and 169 together.

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 with 54,000 premises available to order and pre-order across 22 counties. In total, almost 301,000 premises in the Intervention Area across all counties have been surveyed, with over 157,000 premises constructed or under construction across 26 counties and almost 34,500 premises are now passed with high speed fibre broadband.In line with a remedial plan to address Covid-19 related delays which was agreed with the Department in April 2021, NBI had expected to have almost 60,000 premises passed and available for immediate connection by the end of January 2022. As would be expected with a large scale infrastructure build of this nature, challenges were encountered within planning and build processes and also as a result of Covid-19 impacts. NBI actively continues to work with its network and build partners to address any issues as they arise. Work is underway to re-baseline milestones for 2022 and beyond. The focus for 2022 is to continue to build momentum in the build, catch up on the delays experienced and plan for acceleration. Final targets for 2022 are expected to be agreed early this year.

NBI has implemented a number of measures to help lessen the impact that these challenges have had on the rollout including:-

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

- Bringing in additional NBI resources;

- Earlier procurement of material used in the build stages; and

- Bringing in additional subcontractors.

The Public Spending Code obliges public sector entities to ensure that contracts are managed and delivered to the specified standard, within budget and on time. The contract with NBI contains a comprehensive set of protections and legally binding obligations. The contract makes provision for dealing with delays to delivery of the network arising from unprecedented events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and NBI can seek additional time to meet contract milestones. In those circumstances no penalties would apply. In other circumstances, the contract provides that penalty provisions relating to delays to delivery of the network are applicable with respect to any delays that occur from the end of contract year 2.

With regard to job creation, some 290 staff are employed directly with NBI and there are over 900 employees working with build/design contractors on foot of the NBP investment, with this number rising as the construction activity ramps up. The delivery of the National Broadband Plan is seen as a key enabler of many aspects of the Programme for Government. It will allow policies around remote working and remote service delivery to be realised to their full potential throughout the country no matter how remote the location.