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 and available for immediate connection. Construction is underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. The level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is exceeding projections.

There are 22,874 premises in County Clare that will be passed by National Broadband Ireland with high-speed gigabit fibre broadband as part of the State Intervention under the National Broadband Plan. To date in Clare over 5,092 premises are passed by the NBP high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection. As of 31 January 1,272 premises are now connected in County Clare. 

National Broadband Ireland had a target of 102,000 premises to be passed by the end of January and this target was exceeded.  NBI is on track to meet, or exceed its 2023 target of 185,000 premises passed. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the 7 year contracted period.

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 Clare all 7 BCPs have been installed.

In County Clare 28 schools BCPs 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 are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.