Skip to main content
Normal View

National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Questions (110, 113, 115)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which the national broadband plan continues at pace including the linking up of the urban and rural areas throughout County Kildare in which the greatest efficiency occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1891/21]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which high-speed, high-quality broadband is available throughout County Kildare as a percentage of the total requirement; the progress towards dealing with the areas most poorly served at present; his anticipated targets by year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1894/21]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which he expects to meet the targets set for the provision of a satisfactory broadband service in all areas throughout County Kildare; the measures being taken to address locations of particular deficiency in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1896/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 113 and 115 together.

As of 21 December 2020, over 153,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI)  which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company.

There are 13,859 premises in Kildare that are within the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan. As of December some 2,818 (20%) have been surveyed in the following areas; Killashee, Oughterard, Naas Rural, Rathmore, Kill, Kilteel, Carnalway, Gilltown, Ballymore Eustace, Bodenstown, Naas Urban, Newtown and Donaghcumper. Surveys will be commencing in the areas of Athy, Coneyboro, Aughaboura, Ballinapark, Castlemitchell, Bert, Kilberry and Kilkea. Further details are available on specific areas across the country including Kildare 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.

I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.

Nationally, NBI has construction underway to provide access to the new fibre network to the first 19,237 premises covering townlands in Carrigaline, Cavan, Galway, Limerick and Ballinasloe.  NBI is targeting construction of the fibre network to commence in all 26 counties by the end of 2021.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 21 December, some 241 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and will be connected with high speed publicly accessible broadband through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Lullymore Heritage Park and Bigstone Community Hall have now had NBI equipment installed with more locations planned over the coming months. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

Rathmore National School has also had NBI equipment installed for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just  been announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/

Top
Share