Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

154. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Government clawbacks in respect of the National Broadband Plan will not be diminished as a result of NBI’s interest in X3T and the expectation from its shareholders; if he has engaged with NBI regarding its interest in the company; and if he is satisfied that no risk arises in respect of his interests in the National Broadband Plan as a result of the establishment of the company. [62842/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if NBI is subject to public procurement rules; the way in which services provided to NBI by a company (details supplied) are governed and managed. [62843/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if NBI sought permission to establish a spin-out company named (details supplied) from the NBI; and if his Department completed a due diligence process in relation to the company. [62844/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 to 156, inclusive, together.

I understand that the company referred to in the Question is a separate commercial entity from NBI. Any queries in relation to the referred company and any services it may provide to NBI should be directed to its owners and/or NBI.

There has been no request for approval from NBI in relation to the named company. Should NBI seek any relevant approval it will be processed in line with the requirements of the NBP Contract.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that his Department has specifically made with regard to delivering the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56288/22]

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. There are over 2.47 million premises in the country of which:

- Over 564,00 (22.8%) are within the AMBER area which will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention;

- Over 1.9 million (77.2%) premises are within the BLUE area which represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.

I am advised by NBI that, as of 02 December 2022, over 112,200 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 25 counties, with over 101,700 premises passed across 25 counties and available for immediate connection. Construction is 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 exceeding, projections.

Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) 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 02 December 2022, 823 SCP sites (280 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 543 schools) have been installed 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 BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

Eir has said it will roll out fibre to some 1.9 million premises. SIRO is currently completing the first phase of its fibre deployment and to date has passed more than 430,000 premises with gigabit services and it has recently announced plans to extend its network to an additional 320,000 premises. Virgin Media is offering 250Mbps as a standard offering with 500Mbps and 1Gbps available to many of their customers across the more than 1 million premises that they cover. Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks.