Cathal Crowe
Question:69. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks if a more definitive timeline can be provided for the rollout of high-speed broadband in County Clare [25109/20]
View answerTuesday, 22 September 2020
Questions (69)
Written answers
Design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 21 counties and steady progress is being made with over 91,000 premises surveyed as at 15 September. This activity is increasing week on week. This survey work is feeding into detailed designs for each deployment area and laying fibre should commence shortly with the first fibre to the home connections expected in Cork around December this year.
I am advised that in Co Clare surveys have recently commenced in the areas of Cratloe, Ballycannan, Ballyglass and Cloghrea and further surveys are due to commence in the areas of Kilkishen before the end of this year. This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This will enable design solutions for the provision of a fibre network. NBI provides a facility for any premises within the Intervention Area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website (https://nbi.ie/map/).
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. Some 144 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through 'service provider' contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools.
There are a number of BCPs located across County Clare including at Caherconnell, Cree Community Centre, Loop Head and Michael Cusack Visitor Centres. A number of schools including Kilmurry McMahon, Shragh, Ennistymon and Stonehall National Schools will also be connected to high speed broadband as part of the BCP initiative. Further details can be found on National Broadband Ireland's website. My Department will work with the Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP.
Bringing connectivity to remote rural locations is central to promoting regional development and BCPs represent an important delivery in the early stages of the National Broadband Plan.
Question No. 70 answered orally.