Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
237. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that will have broadband installed under the national broadband plan by county; the percentage of these homes that have been surveyed to date; the percentage of these homes in which broadband has been installed under the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/21]
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 546,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The deployment plan forecasts construction commenced 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.
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 17 March 2021, nearly 194,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed.
A breakdown of the premises in the intervention area by county and surveys undertaken to date is set out in the table below.
|
COUNTY |
number of premises in the IA |
surveys completed |
% surveys completed |
% surveys underway or planned |
|
Carlow |
8,190 |
7,772 |
95% |
5% |
|
Cavan |
16,274 |
3,738 |
23% |
77% |
|
Clare |
22,719 |
3,556 |
16% |
84% |
|
Cork |
79,663 |
22,602 |
28% |
72% |
|
Donegal |
32,483 |
6,389 |
20% |
80% |
|
Dublin |
13,677 |
2,437 |
18% |
82% |
|
Galway |
38,887 |
14,914 |
38% |
62% |
|
Kerry |
26,988 |
16,382 |
61% |
39% |
|
Kildare |
14,085 |
2,818 |
20% |
80% |
|
Kilkenny |
18,416 |
5,951 |
32% |
68% |
|
Laois |
12,562 |
7,934 |
63% |
37% |
|
Leitrim |
11,614 |
3,576 |
31% |
69% |
|
Limerick |
21,293 |
8,583 |
40% |
60% |
|
Longford |
8,712 |
3,294 |
38% |
62% |
|
Louth |
8,423 |
7,850 |
93% |
7% |
|
Mayo |
36,614 |
7,888 |
22% |
78% |
|
Meath |
19,824 |
4,455 |
22% |
78% |
|
Monaghan |
15,332 |
8,863 |
58% |
42% |
|
Offaly |
12,216 |
1,275 |
10% |
90% |
|
Roscommon |
19,185 |
3,591 |
19% |
81% |
|
Sligo |
14,875 |
3,959 |
27% |
73% |
|
Tipperary |
29,810 |
8,643 |
29% |
71% |
|
Waterford |
15,048 |
6,871 |
46% |
54% |
|
Westmeath |
11,761 |
8,656 |
74% |
26% |
|
Wexford |
22,552 |
11,231 |
50% |
50% |
|
Wicklow |
15,464 |
8,285 |
54% |
46% |
|
TOTAL |
546,667 |
191,513 |
35% |
65% |
In relation to premises installed with high speed broadband under the NBP, the first fibre to the home connections are successfully connected and in a test and trial phase in Carrigaline, Co Cork and Cavan. I am advised that almost 1,000 homes are passed and available for connection in Counties Cork and Cavan. I understand build works are continuing across the country in 9 Deployment Areas which cover some 34,000 premises. Pre build works are also underway in 18 Deployment Areas that cover 64,000 premises.
