Written answers

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

129. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan considering many persons in counties Longford and Westmeath are still without access to fibre optic broadband. [28534/22]

Photo of Ossian SmythOssian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties, with over 56,600 premises passed across 22 counties and available for immediate connection. NBI has advised that over 3,000 premises are under construction in County Longford and over 1,200 premises have already been passed in County Westmeath. Further details are available on specific areas within Counties Longford and Westmeath 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 made recent improvements to their website to enhance the provision of information to Oireachtas members. NBI has now completed a suite of changes, creating a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: www.nbi.ie/reps.  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 20 May, 584 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 Longford 8BCP’s have been installed to date, with 7 installed in County Westmeath.  Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.  

In County Longford 7 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access, with 5 installed in County Westmeath. 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/.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.