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National Broadband Plan Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2019

Thursday, 21 November 2019

Questions (197, 198, 199)

Barry Cowen

Question:

197. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when construction will commence on providing fibre optic cable to the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48464/19]

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Barry Cowen

Question:

198. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the first home will be connected to fibre optic to the home broadband under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48465/19]

View answer

Barry Cowen

Question:

199. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publish in full the European Commission state aid decision in relation to the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48466/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive, together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract, which was signed on 19 November, provides that a future proofed high speed broadband network will be deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to people living and working in nearly 540,000 premises in the intervention area over the next 25 years. Work will begin immediately and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years.

Approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be deployed across all counties during 2020. The BCPs will be located in community centres, schools, library hubs and local GAA halls and will enable communities to get free public access to high speed broadband. The BCP locations are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.

NBI will pass approximately 10,000 premises by the end of 2020. By the end of 2021, NBI plans to pass approximately 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. NBI has indicated that the network rollout will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment. A deployment plan will be made available by NBI shortly.

I understand that the non-confidential version of the European Commission's decision will be published on the European Commission's website shortly.

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