Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the roll-out of high-speed broadband in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [9858/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am advised by NBI that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection, with 31,502 premises haven taken up a connection to date.

Over 3,601 premises in County Cavan, and 4,965 premises in County Monaghan are passed by a Gigabit fibre broadband network and are available for immediate connection. As of 31 January NBI advise that 1,323 premises in Co Cavan and 1,455 premises in Co Monaghan are connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cavan and Monaghan 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 have created 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 and connected 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: nbi.ie/reps.

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 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 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. In County Cavan 12 BCPs have been installed to date with 16 BCPs installed in County Monaghan. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/

In County Cavan 19 schools SCPs have been installed by NBI to date for educational access with 14 SCPs installed in Monaghan. 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/.