Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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22. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of plans to fast-track the National Broadband Plan; the impact that this will have on Ireland’s carbon emissions profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47189/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 28 October 2022, over 97,000 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection, with over 87,700 premises passed and available for immediate connection. Construction is underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale.

The NBP State led intervention has been designed to re-use existing poles and ducts where possible, which NBI will lease from existing infrastructure owners. Infrastructure re-use in this manner ensures the State complies with State Aid guidelines and environmental sustainability best practice. Deployment of the NBP has the potential to deliver a range of environmental benefits linked to a range of Government strategies, including reduced emissions from teleworking and business travel. A recent report produced for my Department, investigated the potential benefits of the NBP for the Irish economy. Broadband is increasingly essential to our daily lives and it is a vital part of economic and social development. In particular it shows that the NBP is unlocking significant environmental benefits, principally through the increased prevalence of remote working.

The Cost Benefit Analysis that supported the business case for the Government decision to proceed with the NBP highlighted environmental benefits among a variety of other economic and social benefits. However, it did not set out to specifically forecast the impact of the NBP on emissions. The environmental benefits that result from the NBP, will be amongst the benefits to considered in any future assessment of the impact of the NBP. Such a benefits assessment would be most useful after the network deployment is completed and connections are at a mature stage.