Skip to main content
Normal View

National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020

Thursday, 19 November 2020

Questions (91, 92, 93)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

91. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a residence (details supplied) will receive fibre broadband as its current service is almost non-functional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/20]

View answer

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

92. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a residence (details supplied) will receive fibre broadband as its current service is almost non-functional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37585/20]

View answer

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

93. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a residence (details supplied) will receive fibre broadband as its current service is almost non-functional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37586/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 to 93, inclusive, together.

All premises referenced in the Questions are located within the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).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.  I am advised by NBI that, as of 9 November 2020, over 126,000 premises across every county in Ireland have been surveyed, which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. Of this figure 16,432 premises have been surveyed in County Cork including Midleton, Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfoyle, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon and Kilpatrick. Surveying involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is 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. NBI crews have started initial works for the build covering approximately 4,000 premises in the Carrigaline area including Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfoyle, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon and Kilpatrick. The first fibre to the home connections are expected this month in Carrigaline 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 these areas will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.

Further details are available on specific premises within Cork 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 6 November, some 147 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and 59 of these are now connected with high speed publicly accessible broadband, through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. In County Cork, BCPs have been connected  at  Ballindangan, Aghabullogue, Castletownkenneigh, Lissavard and Whitechurch Community Centres and T.O. Park Labbamollga Community Facility. NBI have also installed BCP infrastructure which will be connected in the coming weeks at Bere Island Heritage Centre and Laharn Heritage Centre.

Clogagh and Ballycroneen National Schools will also be connected, for educational access only, as part of the BCP initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education and Skills to prioritise the remaining schools to be connected over the term of the NBP. I understand that there can be instances where premises remain unconnected, although close to premises that are passed by eir’s fibre network. Eir’s rural deployment of high speed broadband is a commercial undertaking and, as such, decisions regarding the areas and premises served are made by eir. My Department has no role in the matter and has no statutory authority to intervene in decisions of commercial operators as to where they build infrastructure and provide services. Throughout rural Ireland, eir’s fibre deployment is primarily focussed on towns and villages and the premises on their outskirts. Where that network ends is where the National Broadband Plan in effect commences to ensure that nobody is left behind. I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway.

Top
Share