Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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121.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of connections under the national broadband plan in County Mayo; how that compares with revised targets; the sanctions against the contracted company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33664/24]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) are connecting circa 4,000 homes each month. NBI expect to have passed in excess of 300,000 premises by the end of 2024.

I am advised by NBI that, over 266,900 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. Over 88,300 premises are already connected to the National Broadband Plan high-speed broadband network.

In county Mayo, over 8,350 premises are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network, and 2,572 premises are now connected which represents a take up rate of 30%.

In addition, within county Mayo, 4,502 premises are currently at the Network Build in Progress stage, which equates to 12% of premises to be passed, and 12,060 premises are now at the stage of survey complete, equating to 32% of total premises to be passed.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Mayo and can be monitored via .

Through the agreed Remedial Plan, the target for this Contract Year (Contract Year 5) was reset at 282,000 premises to be passed, or 50% of the Intervention Area. By the end of 2024 NBI expect that this will be overachieved and over 300,000 premises will be delivered.

As of end June 2024, delay sanctions totalling €2,108,800 have been imposed for failing to pass Deployment Area’s on time. These sanctions are potentially refundable if NBI achieves other milestones ahead of schedule.

As of June 2024, a performance credit sanction of €52,571 has been applied.

My Department has engaged with NBI at every opportunity to explore options that might increase the pace of rollout. For example, my Department has been working with Directors of Service and Broadband Officers from each of the 31 Local Authorities, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), the County and City Management Agency (CCMA), the Road Management Office (RMO) and other Government Departments, where appropriate, to ensure that any possible barriers that might delay the rollout are addressed as soon as possible. Engagement with other bodies such as Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Irish Rail and ComReg is also undertaken.

Along with the NBP intervention contract, progress is being made by commercial operators in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State and ensuring the targets set out in the Digital Connectivity strategy are achieved.