Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the National Broadband Plan targets were similar to those that his Department initially sought in comparison with the number of residences passed in an area (details supplied); the reason for the delays; the rationale for an organisation moving forward with seven other deployment areas ahead of the area specified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38157/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current staffing levels of an organisation (details supplied) and the impact that this is having on target delivery, particularly with regard to broadband delivery targets in County Roscommon; the action that the organisation is taking to ensure that it has appropriate staffing levels to meet targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38182/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in almost 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 1 July 2022, over 312,800 premises are design completed and over 70,700 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties. NBI has further advised that over 63,600 premises are passed with a high speed fibre broadband service across 23 counties and available for immediate connection. Construction is complete or underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with projections with some areas exceeding expectations. NBI has advised that in County Roscommon there are currently 4,191 premises passed with a high speed fibre broadband service and available for immediate connection.

The area referred to in the Question in County Roscommon falls within the Castlerea Deployment Area under the NBP.NBI has confirmed that the Engineering Surveys for this Deployment Area are now fully complete.  The new broadband network in this Deployment Area will serve approximately 4,264 premises.  An initial anticipated date for live connections in this area was publicised by NBI as being between April 2023 – June 2023.Following the completion of the Engineering Surveys NBI’s team has greater visibility of the extent of the work that will be necessary, including pre-works, duct remediation and pole replacement, in order to successfully deploy fibre services in the area.  As such NBI has revised the anticipated date for live connections in the Castlerea Deployment area to between October 2023 – December 2023. NBI contractors are now proceeding to the detailed Design Phase of the project which will be followed by the Network Build.  Members of the public can monitor the progress of this work on the NBI website, www.nbi.ieor sign-up for email updates about their specific Eircode at www.nbi.ie/eoi.  NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

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

Since January 2020, NBI has mobilised the staff, subcontractors, infrastructure and material providers required to deliver the NBP and has advised that, as of 1 July 2022, is currently providing direct and indirect employment to 1,442 people. These staffing levels continue to increase as the project ramps up.

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. Some 644 BCP sites have been installed by NBI, as of 1 July 2022, 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 Roscommon 9 BCP’s have been installed by NBI to date.  Further details can be found at nbi.ie/broadband-connection-points/.

In County Roscommon 6 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/.