Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
15. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the obligations in the contract with the National Broadband Plan provider to provide forward information on when premises will be surveyed and then passed with fibre as part of the roll-out of fibre in rural Ireland; if he is satisfied that the winning bidder is fulfilling these commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10831/21]
View answerThe 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.
The NBP contract is a detailed document that provides for the design, build and operation of a national high speed broadband network by NBI and includes detailed provisions that are designed to protect the interests of the State and citizens. It contains extensive reporting requirements. My Department as the contracting authority manages all of the elements of contract governance and is satisfied that NBI is fulfilling their reporting requirements.
While the way in which NBI presents information on its website is not set out in the contract, I am advised that NBI are working to provide greater functionality and more detail on their website with a rolling update of network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
