Cathal Crowe
Question:140. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the national broadband plan currently in terms of connectivity in County Clare. [33976/20]
View answerTuesday, 10 November 2020
Questions (140, 145)
Cathal Crowe
Question:145. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of broadband in County Clare; and if he will ensure connectivity in rural areas of the county. [33975/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 145 together.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. 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.
As of 4 November, design work is complete or ongoing in target townlands across 25 counties and steady progress is being made with almost 122,000 premises surveyed to date which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company.
Surveys have commenced in Co Clare in the areas of Cratloe, Ballycannan, Ballyglas and Cloghrea and further surveys are due to commence in the areas of Kilkishen before the end of this year. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts, informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area.
The first fibre to the home connections are expected next month in Carrigaline, Co Cork and they will be subject to technical testing and validation prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised that from the end of January retailers will be able to resell the service and householders in this area will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.
Further details are available on specific areas within Clare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence.
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. As of 30 October, 187 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. Some 59 publically accessible BCPs across the country are now live.
Cree Community Centre, Loop Head Lighthouse, and Michael Cusack Visitor Centre are BCPs which are now connected in Co. Clare. A number of schools including Shragh, Ennistymon and Stonehall National Schools are also now connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. My Department will work with Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP.