Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
1031. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed broadband will be rolled out in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25189/18]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention under the NBP. All 9 premises within the townland of Parkmore (Templemartin) Co Cork are in the AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . They are therefore included in the State led Intervention under the NBP.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area in order to provide access to high speed broadband to households such as the premises in question. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
I fully recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland including the townland referenced by the Deputy and sincerely appreciate the frustration for communities and businesses that do not currently have access to this level of connectivity. Delivering connectivity to these premises remains a priority for me and my Department will engage with the winning bidder to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives are being undertaken through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure.
A list of Broadband Officers, is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
