Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Broadband Infrastructure

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21247/22]

Photo of Ossian SmythOssian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Question refers to premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.  I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 15 April 2022, over 319,000 premises have been surveyed or have survey underway, with almost 172,000 premises constructed or under construction across all counties. NBI has also advised that premises are now connected in 16 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow and almost 64,000 premises are available to order and pre-order across 22 counties.  In County Limerick surveying is complete in the Deployment Area of Hospital, main works are underway in the Deployment Area of Adare and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Limerick, with over 7,000 premises under construction or complete, and over 2,500 premises available to order or pre order a high speed broadband connection.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Limerick 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 as works commence. NBI 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 15 April 2022, 553 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. In County Limerick 13 BCPs have been installed to date including Cappamore Community Centre, which is approximately 6.7km from the premises referred to. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. 

In County Limerick 13 schools have been installed by NBI to date 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. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

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