Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
520. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to implement a national broadband scheme to provide fibre to homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52780/18]
View answer522. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the Action Plan for Rural Development specifically relating to the roll-out of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45963/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 522 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland - regardless of how remote or rural - has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across Ireland; and a State intervention in those areas, mostly rural areas, where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. The NBP, which is listed under pillar 5 of the Action Plan for Rural Ireland, is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department will now conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed 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. The Taskforce Report and related progress updates are available on my Department's website.
