Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the roll out of the National Broadband Plan as of November 2025, including progress in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64379/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026.

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

I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that there are over 564,000 premises in the Intervention Area and design work has been completed for 100% of these. NBI anticipated they would pass 420,000 premises by the end of 2025. NBI have exceeded that figure in already passing over 430,000 premises in the intervention area and are connecting on average 4,500 premises to their fibre network per month. When completed, Ireland will rank in the top tier of EU member states on the provision of widespread high speed broadband connectivity to its citizens, communities and enterprises.

NBI also advise that circa 442,880 premises, across all counties in mainly rural areas, can now order or pre-order broadband and over 153,660 premises are already connected. The NBP is expected to provide access to high-speed fibre broadband for approximately 65,000 (69% of farms) farms across Ireland in total, with over 40,000 farms having access to this service, with more than 17,000 already connected, proving a high rate of take-up. In addition, 955 broadband connection points, including 672 in schools, are now operational, ensuring that communities and young people in every corner of Ireland can participate fully in the digital economy.

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.

Further details are available on specific counties and areas which can be monitored via nbi.ie/reps. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.

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.