Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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3465. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the new initiatives under rural connectivity created by the National Broadband Plan are being considered to deliver new services remotely and support new activity in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42418/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, 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. My colleague, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, is responsible for the delivery of the NBP. Under the NBP contract, National Broadband Ireland (NBI) will roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the State Intervention Area to over 564,000 premises. Design work has been completed at almost all of these premises and, as of 18 July 2025, 411,235 premises (73%), across all counties in mainly rural areas, can now order or pre-order broadband and over 136,730 premises (35%) are already connected. NBI expects to have passed over 420,000 premises by the end of 2025.

A key focus of Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, is optimising digital connectivity to support vibrant, sustainable, rural communities. The Connected Hubs initiative (connectedhubs.ie) has facilitated people to work remotely providing hub owners and customers with a central, easy to use portal where a range of services can be offered and booked, in particular professional remote working spaces and meeting rooms. There are now 387 hubs on the Connected Hubs platform quickly approaching the target of 400 hubs over the lifetime of Our Rural Future.

A number of initiatives have been developed through Connected Hubs that benefit the wider community, such as 'Learning in the Hubs' which enables adult learners to undertake Technology University of the Shannon college courses in local hubs with state-of-the-art facilities allowing students to remain in their own locality to study, whilst also networking with other students.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are an initiative under the NBP. 300 BCPs have been installed nationwide providing high-speed broadband connectivity to some of the most isolated and rural communities throughout the country. They are located in publicly accessible buildings such as community centres, libraries, sports facilities, tourist locations and other public spaces.

My Department has funded a number of projects in BCPs which demonstrate the opportunities that connectivity and remote delivery offer, and which provide solutions to challenges or address gaps in service that have been identified by the Department, local authorities or other stakeholders. Projects in thematic areas such as Digital Skills and Education, Arts and Culture and Remote Working have been developed in partnership with key stakeholders and rolled out to suitable BCPs across the network.

A new National Hubs Strategy to be published later this year which will present a coherent and whole-of-government approach to the future development of digital hubs. Developed jointly with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Western Development Commission and, following consultation with key stakeholders, the strategy will include measures to underpin the sustainable development of the network of hubs. This will contribute to balanced regional economic development, supporting remote working and providing access to digital services in rural communities.