William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

354. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to accelerate the roll out of high-speed broadband in underserved rural communities; the means by which his Department is coordinating with the National Broadband Plan to ensure timely delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50124/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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

The Government identified a need to deliver broadband services where commercial operators would not operate such as in parts of rural Ireland. As part of the NBP, the Government appointed National Broadband Ireland to deliver wholesale broadband services to those parts of the country not served by commercial operators.

I am advised by NBI that there are over 564,000 premises in the Intervention Area (IA) and design work has been completed for 100% of these. NBI has also passed over 403,800 premises in the intervention area and are connecting circa 4,400 premises to their fibre network per month. NBI expect to have passed over 420,000 premises by end of 2025.

NBI also advise that 429,953 premises, across all counties in mainly rural areas, can now order or pre-order broadband and over 144,900 premises are already connected.

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.

Based on current plans and achievements, the Department expect to deliver the deployment of the NBP by the end of 2026, as per the Programme for Government commitment.