Written Answers Nos. 1-20
1. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied that Ireland can remain an attractive location for foreign direct investment, having particular regard to Ireland’s peripheral geographic location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10880/21]
View answerRetaining and strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a first-class destination for foreign direct investment remains fundamentally important to our economic model. The Government and IDA Ireland will continue to promote our country abroad, particularly in the face of international competition. Despite unprecedented challenges to Ireland’s economy in 2020, IDA Ireland’s end of year results for 2020 show that foreign direct investment was resilient even with the impact of COVID-19.
Ireland has a number of key strengths that continue to make us a highly attractive destination for FDI. These include our highly skilled workers, excellent education system and positive demographics. Our continued commitment to the European Union, the single market and Eurozone, as well as to free trade and multilateralism, are other key selling points that help us convince multinational companies to establish operations here.
I recognise that global competition for new investment is intensifying. IDA Ireland has recently published its new strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. The strategy prioritises regional development, building a sustainable enterprise base, driving productivity and increasing the spill-over effects from FDI to SMEs.
I am confident that we can build on our strengths and continue to attract the highest quality of investment to all parts of Ireland.
2. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the business supports available to assist hairdressing businesses currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10710/21]
View answerBudget 2021 overall provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build resilience and help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the Credit Guarantee Scheme. Changes were made to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the EWSS, increasing the top rate to €350 for those who were earning in excess of €400 per week. We have extended the EWSS to the end of June which will continue to benefit many businesses and employees in the hairdressing and barbering sectors.
My colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister for Social Protection announced the doubling of the PUP threshold to €960 over an eight-week period. This will help people to restart their businesses when it is safe to do so and allow self-employed people to take on intermittent jobs.
We have introduced a reduction in the 13.5% VAT rate to 9% until the end of 2021 which will benefit the hairdressing sector, together with a range of additional public capital investment measures to support the domestic economy.
The Revenue Commissioners' COVID Restrictions Support Scheme offers a temporary sector-specific support to businesses forced to close or trade at significantly reduced levels by up to €5,000 per week. This will be of benefit to hairdressing businesses and the Government has extended this scheme to the end of June for impacted businesses.
We are committed to helping businesses respond to the economic challenges arising from the pandemic with a particular focus on firms that do not qualify for the weekly CRSS grant from the Revenue Commissioners or existing sectoral schemes in areas such as the arts, transport and tourism.
I will continue to work with my colleagues to identify practical actions and to monitor supports available to assist businesses.
3. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to his statement of 17 December 2020 in respect of political involvement in the purchase of ventilators from a company (details supplied), if in his role as Taoiseach he had signed off on the deal at the time; the due diligence carried out by him at the time on the company in question; and if a response to the question asked during the debate on 17 December 2020 will be provided to this Deputy. [10779/21]
View answerAs the procurement of medical equipment is a matter for the Health Service Executive this question is more appropriate to the Department of Health.
4. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually. [10813/21]
View answerThe policy areas which fall within the responsibility of my Department at EU level mainly come within the remit of four Council formations. They are the Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry), the Competitiveness Council (Space), the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), and the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment) (EPSCO). The Department coordinates for these Councils too.
Responsibility for EPSCO transferred from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to my Department with effect from 14 October 2020.
Responsibility for the Competitiveness Council (Research) transferred from my Department to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on 1 January 2021.
The following tables include both the formal and informal Council of the EU meetings which have taken place under the different formations of Council since 27 June 2020. Councils that are held virtually are, perforce, informal, while Councils held in Brussels are formal.
Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry)
|
Date |
Attendance |
Virtually / Physically |
|
18 September 2020 |
An Tánaiste |
Virtually |
|
23 October 2020 |
Minister Troy |
Virtually |
|
19 November 2020 |
Minister Troy |
Virtually |
|
25 February 2021 |
An Tánaiste and Minister Troy |
Virtually |
Competitiveness Council (Research)
|
Date |
Attendance |
Virtually / Physically |
|
21 July 2020 |
Departmental Official |
Virtually |
|
29 September 2020 |
Deputy Permanent Representative |
Brussels |
|
27 November 2020 |
Minister Harris |
Virtually |
Competitiveness Council (Space)
|
Date |
Attendance |
Virtually / Physically |
|
20 November 2020 |
Minister English |
Virtually |
Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)
|
Date |
Attendance |
Virtually / Physically |
|
21 September 2020 |
An Tánaiste |
Berlin (Informal) |
|
9 November 2020 |
An Tánaiste |
Virtually |
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)
|
Date |
Attendance |
Virtually / Physically |
|
3 December 2020 |
Minister English |
Virtually |
|
22 February 2021 |
Minister English |
Virtually |
As well as Council meetings, my Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage with our EU counterparts on an ongoing bilateral basis.
5. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports being considered for the hospitality sector in view of the extended restrictions on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10910/21]
View answerI am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses right across the country. The hospitality sector has been one of the industries hardest hit.
With this in mind the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme, low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
The hospitality sector can avail of the supports outlined above, in particular the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme. This scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners on behalf of the Department of Finance. The Government has this week decided to extend the EWSS, the CRSS, the PUP and the rates waiver for impacted businesses to the end of June 2021.
Recently, I announced a new €60m Scheme, called the COVID-19 Business Aid Scheme that is being developed to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the Government’s other existing schemes and to help with fixed costs.
Businesses will be required to be in receipt of a rates bill from their local authority for their business in order to qualify for CBAS. The intention behind this provision is that they assist businesses operating from fixed premises to meet some of the ongoing fixed costs of maintaining those premises.
The Government is very much open to proposals as to how we can help businesses further. However, our schemes are there to help meet fixed costs that cannot be avoided and to provide basic weekly income support up to maximum of €350 per week. We are not providing compensation for loss of personal income above this level or compensation for loss of profits for any sector.
6. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will update this Deputy on his finding further to his statement on 28 January 2021 (details supplied). [10943/21]
View answerI wrote to Professor Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and to Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) seeking further clarification of adults with chronic diseases who are at higher risk of severe illness if they contract Covid-19, as well as the immunosuppressed like transplant and cancer patients.
In doing so, I reiterated my acceptance of the advice they had furnished to date and my commitment to be guided by any further advice.
7. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and value of procurement contracts for Covid-19-related spending in 2020 and 2021 that took place via negotiated procedure without prior publication in his Department. [11177/21]
View answerBearing in mind the scope of the question it is not yet possible to provide the Deputy with the details requested within the timeframe specified.
Details regarding the COVID-19 specific procurement undertaken by my Department and its Offices last year and year to date in 2021 will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as available over the coming days.
8. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown of procurement contracts for Covid-19-related spending in 2020 and 2021 that took place via negotiated procedure without prior publication by his Department, by goods and service type in tabular form. [11207/21]
View answerBearing in mind the scope of the question it is not yet possible to provide the Deputy with the details requested within the timeframe specified.
Details regarding the COVID-19 specific procurement undertaken by my Department and its Offices last year and year to date in 2021 will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as available over the coming days.
9. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 25 November 2020, if further details of the three contracts cited will be provided in particular the value of the contracts and the nature of the contract work carried out in tabular form. [10790/21]
View answerThe additional details requested in respect of the contracts referred to in reply to Question No. 33 of 25 November 2020 are set out in the table below.
|
Contract |
Contract Value (ex VAT) |
Nature of the contract |
|
Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) Awarded February 2018 |
ECAS is funded through a call handling fee which is payable by the telecommunications network operators and the telephone call service providers for each emergency call carried on their networks to the ECAS. The estimated value of the contract per annum is €6.9m. |
This contract is for the operation of the national Emergency Call Answering Service. The ECAS operator responds to all incoming 112/999 calls in Ireland. Its role is to identify and route the call through to the appropriate Emergency Service (Garda, Fire, Ambulance or Coast Guard and, in cases involving aircraft, Air Traffic Control). The social clauses incorporated into this procurement took the form of contractual clauses relating to the protection of the environment and reduction in energy consumption. |
|
Advice on Environmental Assessment (Single Consent) Awarded May 2020 |
€12,784 |
This contract was for the provision of expert advice on a single statutory environmental assessment. This contract was awarded pending completion of a single supplier framework as referenced below. The social clauses incorporated into this procurement took the form of award criteria through which environmental management practices were assessed. |
|
Environmental Assessment Services Awarded October 2020 |
The value of the contract is dependent on usage (i.e. the volume of assessments submitted to the Department). The estimated value of the contract over its term is €300,000. |
This contract is a single supplier framework for the provision of expert advice on statutory environmental assessments submitted to the Department in respect of offshore geophysical, environmental and seismic survey consent applications and exploratory drilling applications for natural gas and oil exploration and production activities. The social clauses incorporated into this procurement took the form of award criteria through which environmental management practices were assessed. |
10. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount paid to windfarms in constraint payments annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10662/21]
View answerUnder the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act 2007, regulation of the Single Electricity Market (SEM), including its detailed rules as set out in the Trading and Settlement Code, is the responsibility of the SEM Committee. The SEM Committee consists of the Commission for Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the Utility Regulator Northern Ireland (UREGNI) and independent members.
The operation and administration of the Single Electricity Market is managed by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO). The SEMO is a joint venture between the transmission system operator for Ireland, EirGrid, and the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) Limited. The SEMO is licensed and regulated by the CRU in Ireland and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the UREGNI.
I have no function in the day-to-day operational matters of the CRU, the SEM Operator or of the SEM Committee.
However information on the amount of constraints on the system are published in Eirgrid’s Annual Renewable Energy Constraint and Curtailment Report, which is available on the www.eirgridgroup.com website.
11. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of fibre broadband at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/21]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
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.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 15 February 2021, over 178,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys in County Cavan have been completed in Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles, Caughoo, Belturbet, Killashandra and Butler’s Bridge. Pre-build works are underway outside Cavan town including in Ballinagh, Corlurgan, Araghan, Poles and Caughoo. Further details are available on specific areas within County Cavan 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 as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 15 February, 274 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 for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. BCPs are installed at Gallonray House Gallonreagh Maudabawn, Kildallan Parish Hall, Killenkere Leisure Centre, Castle Saunderson Scout Centre, Bunnoe Community Centre, Drumavaddy Community Centre, Templeport Community Centre, Cornafean Communty Centre, Mullahoran Community Centre and Glengevlin Community Hall. The BCP site at Castlerahan Community Centre is installed and connected. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Laragh National School is planned by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise 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 was announced in December 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/.
12. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually. [10814/21]
View answerA total of six formal and informal meetings of the Environment Council and Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council have been held since 27 June 2020. All with the exception of two of these meetings have been held virtually and the details of these meetings are set out as follows:
1. Environment Council 30 September / 1 October 2020 - Informal meeting of Environment Ministers, which was held virtually.
2. Environment Council 23 October / 24 October 2020 - Formal Environment Ministers meeting, which was held in person and attended by the Department's Environment Attaché based in Brussels.
3. Environment Council 17 December 2020 - Formal Environment Ministers meeting in Brussels, which I attended in person.
4. Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council 7 December 2020 - Informal Video Conference of Telecommunications Ministers.
5. Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council 6 October 2020 - the German Presidency held an Informal Video Conference of Energy Ministers; as I was not available to attend this meeting I was represented by the Assistant Secretary over the Energy Area.
6. Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council 14 December 2020 - the German Presidency held an Informal Video Conference of Energy Ministers.
13. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason an address (details supplied) was not included in the roll-out of the national broadband plan given other providers are refusing to provide high speed over 30 Mbps at the address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10828/21]
View answer17. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason an address (details supplied) was not included in the roll-out of the national broadband plan given other providers are refusing to provide high speed over 30 Mbps broadband at this address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10835/21]
View answer18. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason an address (details supplied) was not included in the roll-out of the national broadband plan given other providers are refusing to provide high speed broadband over 30 Mbps at this address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10836/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 17 and 18 together.
The premises referred to in the Questions are located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
My Department has, however, raised queries regarding the premises in question with the network operator to get the current status for the locations referred to. As soon as a reply is received my Department will revert to the Deputy with an update.
14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises passed by National Broadband Ireland to date as part of the State-funded roll-out of high speed broadband; the number surveyed to date; the number of premises contracted to be passed in 2021 as part of this roll-out of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10829/21]
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 contract links the payment of subsidy to premises having been passed by the new fibre network and envisaged at the time of contract signing in November 2019 that 20% of premises could be passed by the end of the second contract year (which is the end of January 2022).
Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020 and which are continuing into this year, NBI has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan. I am advised by NBI that, as of 15 February 2021, over 178,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the target forecast by NBI. The first fibre to the home connections are successfully connected and in a test and trial phase in Carrigaline, Co Cork and Cavan. Technical testing and validation will be undertaken prior to a wider release of the areas.Build works are continuing across the country in 9 Deployment Areas, including a total of 34,405 premises, and "make ready" work is underway in a further 18 Deployment Areas that include a further 64,688 premises.
The Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network resulting in delays on delivery of aspects of the programme. Impacts include challenges with mobilisation of key contractors with restrictions on operations, supply chain and logistic delays (both nationally and internationally), as well as the recruitment of key personnel as NBI and its contractors scale up, including challenges associated with on-boarding and training people. Inevitably, like many other organisations, NBI and contractor staff are at risk of contracting Covid 19 or may have to restrict their movements as a result of being a close contact posing further challenges. The extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible.
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.
16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position in respect of licences for mining exploration on the Inishowen peninsula and specifically the situation regarding a licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10834/21]
View answerThere are four active prospecting licence areas (PLA) in the Inishowen peninsula in Co Donegal. With regard to PLA 3820 the Department is evaluating the licence which is due for renewal on 9 April 2021.
Where the Minister intends to renew a licence, legislation requires that public notice of the Minister's intention is given and that submissions can be made by members of the local community. The consultation period for submissions is open for a total of 30 days. All submissions received are considered as part of the decision-making process The Minister’s Intention to Grant Notices is also sent for public display to the appropriate Garda station(s), local authority office(s) and the Geological Survey Ireland. Additional information on the process of granting prospecting licences and making submissions is available online on my Department's website.
The Government advice is clear that within level 5 people should continue to work from home unless it is absolutely necessary to attend in person for the delivery of an essential service. The list of essential services is available at www.gov.ie. My Department communicated with the minerals exploration sector in March and September 2020 to reiterate the advice provided by the Health and Safety Authority for employers in relation to Covid-19 and the Health Service Executive's Covid-19 best-practice guidelines on restriction of movements and self-isolation. My Department continues to review the situation and may issue further notices as the situation develops.
19. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of applications for Sustainable Energy authority of Ireland, SEAI, grants that are granted on their initial application by county; if he has considered reviewing the operation of schemes due to the undue level of paperwork involved on the contractor side; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10843/21]
View answerMy Department funds a number of SEAI grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. These schemes offer partial grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency improvements for people at risk of energy poverty.
Improvements to the SEAI systems and processes are made on an ongoing basis. For instance, it is intended that the new National Retrofit Scheme to be launched later this year will utilise a new end-to-end, digital first process.
Given the nature of some SEAI programmes, whereby homeowners do not make an application directly but instead apply through a project co-ordinator, the data requested by the Deputy is only available through a manual analysis of files for each historical project and project co-ordinator. My Department has, however, asked the SEAI to compile the relevant information for 2020 which will give a good indication of the proportion of applications that are approved on first application. This information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
20. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when fibre broadband will be available through National Broadband Ireland to an area (details supplied). [10844/21]
View answerThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
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.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland that, as of 15 February 2021, over 178,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys in County Westmeath have been completed in Mullingar, Sonna, Stonehall, Taghmon, Jamestown, Hopestown, and Athlone. Further details are available on specific areas within County Westmeath 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 as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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 15 February, 274 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 for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. BCPs are installed at Streete Parish Park and Community Hall, Whitehall Community Centre, Milltown Emper Community Centre and Ballycomoyle GAA Club. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride is connected by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise 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 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/.
