Written answers

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Broadband Infrastructure

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of the new clubhouse and facilities (details supplied) which will be opened shortly in Balbriggan; if he is aware that the area immediately surrounding this new clubhouse does not have access to high speed broadband; if the installation of a BCP has been considered for this site; if will provide an update on any progress on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26970/25]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.

The premises in question and its surrounding area are in the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on the Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/.

The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.

The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.

There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.

If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) webform at and the Department will escalate with the commercial operator to investigate this matter further.

As per records available the premises in question can now order full fibre gigabit connection with speeds up to 2Gbps. This information and details of retail broadband providers who deliver broadband to premises in the blue area can be found on the Open eir website at .

Broadband Connection Points (BCP) are a key element of the NBP and are located in areas of community importance, allowing local residents in the Intervention Area to quickly get free public access to high-speed broadband in advance of fibre deployment under the National Broadband Plan.

Broadband Officers in each local authority were tasked with consulting with local communities and businesses to find the appropriate mix of locations in the Intervention Area for BCPs to reap the maximum benefits.

The premises in question is in an area where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services and, therefore, is not in the Intervention Area.

To find the nearest public BCP, an Eircode can be searched on NBI’s website ().

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