The premises referred to in the Question 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. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. However, it has come to my Department’s attention that a number of BLUE premises are having difficulty connecting to a commercial high speed network and may continue to do so in the future. Officials in my Department are examining a number of premises, including the ones referred to in the Question, and will ensure that access to high speed broadband is made available either through commercial means or through the National Broadband Plan intervention. Where appropriate and if compliant with State aid rules, premises may be reclassified as AMBER on the high speed broadband map. Before reclassification can be confirmed, a formal review process must be undertaken to ensure that the State is compliant with State Aid rules and the State aid approval which enabled the contract to be awarded under the National Broadband Plan. My Department is currently formally engaging with commercial operators in relation to a number of premises, including the premises referred to in the Question and the outcome of these deliberations is expected shortly. This will enable a formal reclassification of premises where appropriate.
The NBP High Speed Broadband Map is dynamic. This means that the intervention area can be updated to reflect new commercial plans, or previous plans that have failed to materialise. This flexibility allows for an increase or decrease in the number of premises included in the State Intervention area, if appropriate to do so.
