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

66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a comprehensive update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan. [47027/22]

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

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 over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) commenced connections to the new fibre network in January 2021.

Over 97,000 premises are available for order and pre-order through local broadband service providers across 25 counties. Premises are constructed or under construction across all counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale.

NBI has advised that, as of 28 October 2022 over 343,200 premises are design complete. Over 87,700 premises are passed and available for order and immediate connection. Over 22,800 premises are connected. Connections are in line with projections and in some areas are exceeding projections.

The total number of premises at build stage are:

- Over 232,800 premises with infrastructure preparation works commenced;

- Over 162,400 premises with infrastructure preparation works complete;

- Over 123,100 with main build works commenced;

- Over 103,400 with main build works complete.

- Over 87,700 premises are passed and available for order and immediate connection

Some 320 direct employees and 1,138 indirect employees working with build/design contractors are now employed on foot of the NBP investment, with this number rising weekly as the construction activity ramps up. As of 28October NBI has advised that over 15,400km of cable and over 48,500 poles have been installed on the project.

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 28 October 2022, 778 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. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

NBI has advised that, as of 28 October 2022, 499 schools have been installed by NBI of which 154 have already been connected to Retail Service Providers (RSPs) by the Department of Education and are now live. The Department of Education ran a RSP tendering process for the next batch of 100 installed schools. This process is concluded, with connections anticipated in the coming weeks.