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National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Questions (82, 91, 92, 161)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

82. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the areas in County Cork which will be connected first in view of recent announcements regarding the rollout of the National Broadband Plan. [25128/20]

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Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

91. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of the rollout of rural broadband in west County Cork to deal with the hundreds of black spot areas that do not have adequate broadband. [24998/20]

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Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

92. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of the rollout of the National Broadband Plan in County Cork; the areas which will be connected first within the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25126/20]

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Thomas Gould

Question:

161. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the priority areas identified in County Cork for roll out of the National Broadband Plan. [24333/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 91, 92 and 161 together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed on 19 November last to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.

The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having  access to high speed broadband within the next four years.

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 of the 15 September. 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 around December.

As of the 15 September, approximately 12,000 premises have been surveyed in Cork in areas of Carrigaline and Middleton, with network designs completed to deliver the new fibre network there. NBI crews have started initial works for the build in the areas of Carrigaline including Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfolye, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon, and Kilpatrick. 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 (DES) for schools.

In Cork, publically available WIFI will soon be available at BCP locations across the county including  Aubane, Mealagh Valley, Glash, Courtbrack, Sherkin Island, Ballindangan, Lissvard Community Centres and Bere Island Heritage Centre. Clogagh and Ballycroneen National Schools will also be connected with high speed broadband for educational access.

Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/ . 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.   

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