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Broadband Infrastructure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Questions (149)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

149. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the offshore islands that are currently served by high-speed fibre-optic broadband; when high-speed fibre-optic broadband will be rolled out to the remaining offshore islands; and the estimated cost of same. [23821/21]

View answer

Written answers

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 includes the islands and 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 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. Over 2,200 premises on offshore islands are included and will be provided with access to high speed broadband as part of the State led intervention, ensuring that no premises are left behind regardless of how remote their location. The NBP contract provides that the maximum cost to the State of delivering the NBP network over the 25 year period of the contract is €2.7bn and this subsidy includes the cost of bringing fibre connectivity to our offshore islands.

Further details are available on specific areas across the country, including the islands, 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 29 April, 11 BCP sites on islands 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 by the Department of Education for schools. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband as part of the BCP initiative, including the islands 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/.

The following table sets out the public BCP sites that have been installed, connected or are in planning on the islands.

PUBLIC SITE NAME

EIRCODE

ISLAND

LA

Installed

Connected

Bere Island Heritage Centre

P75W660

Bere

Cork

Yes

Yes

Coláiste Phobal Cléire

P81P627

Cape Clear

Cork

Yes

In planning

Sherkin Island Community Hall

P81AE02

Sherkin

Cork

Yes

In planning

Tory CO-OP

F92FD66

Tory

Donegal

Yes

Yes

Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin CTR

H91XK40

Inis Meáin

Galway

In planning

In planning

Comhar na Noileán

H91D27X

Inis Oirr

Galway

Yes

Yes

Inishbofin Community Centre

H91TC6C

Inishbofin

Galway

In planning

In planning

Kilronan Library 

H91WN93

Inishmore

Galway

In planning

In planning

Halla Pobal Thír an Fhia

H91CT9F

Lettermore

Galway

In planning

In planning

Tír an Fhia

H91YE86

Lettermore

Galway

In planning

In planning

Lettermullen Community Centre

H91CH7X

Lettermullen

Galway

Yes

Yes

Cable Station - Valentia

V23H685

Valentia

Kerry

Yes

Yes

Chapeltown Community Centre

V23H240

Valentia

Kerry

Yes

Yes

Clare Island Community Centre

F28KP99

Clare Island

Mayo

Yes

Yes

Inisturk Community Centre

H91N990

Inisturk

Mayo

In planning

In planning

The following table sets out the School BCP sites that have been installed, connected or are in planning on the islands.

SCHOOL NAME

EIRCODE

ISLAND

LA

Installed

Connected

MHICHIL NAOFA

P75AK22

Bere Island

Cork

In Planning

In Planning

S N CLEIRE

P81FY05

Cape Clear

Cork

In Planning

In Planning

SN ARAINN MHOR I

F92Y978

Arranmore

Donegal

In Planning

In Planning

Arranmore NS

F92AE75

Arranmore

Donegal

In Planning

In Planning

SCOIL NAOMH CHOLMCILLE

F92XV52

Tory Island

Donegal

Yes

In Planning

S N INIS MEADHOIN

H91P892

Inis Meáin

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

S N CAOMHAIN

H91C967

Inis Oirr

Galway

Yes

In Planning

INISHBOFIN N S

H91KV48

Inishbofin

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

S N RONAIN

H91ED89

Inishmore

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

S N EOIN POL II

H91W727

Inishmore

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

S N BHRIDE

H91F3C5

Lettermore

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

SCOIL RONAIN

H91E8Y0

Lettermore

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

S N Leitir Meallain

H91RX45

Lettermullen

Galway

In Planning

In Planning

S N DAR EARCA

V23R928

Valentia

Kerry

In Planning

In Planning

DOOKINELLA N.S.

F28RF79

Achill

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

VALLEY N S

F28HY27

Achill

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

S N DUMHACH

F28AK54

Achill

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

SN NAOMH SEOSAMH

F28K500

Achill

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

ACHILL SOUND CONVENT NS

F28ER26

Achill Sound

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

S N NAOMH PADRAIG SAILE

F28Y229

Achill Sound

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

ST PATRICKS NS

F28F516

Clare Island

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

ST COLUMBAS N.S.

H91YNP3

Inishturk

Mayo

In Planning

In Planning

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