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National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Questions (69, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)

Colm Burke

Question:

69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if clarification of a timeline can be given for surveys to be carried out and for the commencement of works to begin under the national broadband plan in the Blarney, Tower and Kerry Pike areas of County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44909/20]

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Colm Burke

Question:

78. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan will be rolled out across County Cork by townland and yearly quarter in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45033/20]

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Colm Burke

Question:

79. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan is expected to be rolled out in Blarney, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45034/20]

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Colm Burke

Question:

80. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan is expected to be rolled out in Tower, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45035/20]

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Colm Burke

Question:

81. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan is expected to be rolled out in Kerry Pike, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45036/20]

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Colm Burke

Question:

82. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan is expected to be rolled out in Templemichael, White's Cross, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45037/20]

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Colm Burke

Question:

83. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan is expected to be rolled out in an area and at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45040/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 78 to 83, inclusive, together.

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract 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 over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.

Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. I am advised by NBI that, as of December 2020, over 153,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company.In County Cork there are 79,424 premises within the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan which includes premises in the locations referred  to by the Deputy. Approximately 20% of premises have been surveyed with surveys complete in Midleton, Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfoyle, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon and Kilpatrick. Surveys have started in Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Umeraboy, Knocknagree, Rineen, Cullen, Coolinarna, Millstreet, Hollymount and Caherbarnagh.  

Significant build works are underway in Carrigaline, Fountainstown, Ballinhassig, Monkstown, and Upper Rochestown.  I am also advised that NBI is targeting further surveying in Cork within the next 18 months.

Further details are available on specific areas 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.

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.

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, 241 publicly accessible 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.  Bere Island Heritage Centre, Laharn Heritage Centre and  Ballydaly Community Hall  are BCPs which are now installed by NBI. Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, Whitechurch Community Centre and T.O. Park Labbamollaga are now installed and connected.  Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/. 

Clogagh and Ballycroneen National School are planned by NBI 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/ 

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