Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects to see fibre broadband rolled out in Brownstown, Cloughjordan, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1249/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 6 January, construction is underway across 26 counties. Over 117,900 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection, with over 109,200 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. In County Tipperary, NBI has advised that there are 5,806 premises passed by the high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection. 

Further details are available on specific areas within County Tipperary, including the area referred to in the question 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 a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. NBI has also made recent improvements to their website to enhance the provision of information to Oireachtas members including 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. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: www.nbi.ie

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 6 January, 844 SCP sites (281 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 563 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 SCP’s. In County Tipperary 20 BCP’s have been installed to date.  Further details can be found at: nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. 

In County Tipperary 35 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/.