Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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142. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the ongoing steps to support remote working through the roll-out of high-speed fibre broadband connections, particularly to blackspot-prone rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41654/24]

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.

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is currently rolling out a high speed and future-proofed broadband network through its Contract with the Minister.

NBI are connecting circa 4,200 homes each month. NBI remain ahead of contractual targets having passed 205,638 premises by the end of 2023 and the end of 2024 target has been met with over 300,000 passed, which is over half of the premises in the intervention area.

I am advised by NBI that over 99,583 premises are already connected to the National Broadband Plan high-speed broadband network.

The timeline for the completion of the rollout of the high-speed broadband network by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is 2027. NBI are confident that they will deliver the full programme within the originally scheduled seven-year timeline, while my Department continues to explore opportunities with NBI to further expediate the programme.

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.

My Department is aware of some evidence emerging, based on conversations with ComReg and commercial operators, that a portion of premises that do not form part of the intervention area may prove not to be commercially viable in terms of being connected to a gigabit network by 2028. The Department are currently investigating reasons for why such instances may arise with a view to identifying solutions. However, it is important to note that significant commercial roll-out programmes by Eir, SIRO and VMI are on-going, and the scale of this potential problem can only be established upon completion of those commercial roll-out programmes.

While commercial rollouts are ongoing, the Department will continue to investigate this issue with relevant stakeholders such as ComReg and commercial operators and would note that it is considering options around potential pilot schemes aimed at informing potential future solutions in order the 2028 gigabit connectivity commitments are achieved.