Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
35. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he or the agencies under his remit has had with the National Broadband Plan in the past two months. [38201/21]
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 engages with NBI on an ongoing basis across all elements of the programme to deliver the new high speed broadband network.
I receive regular briefings from my officials on delivery of the NBP programme and met with representatives from NBI for a briefing on 22 June last. I also visited a site in County Monaghan on 25 June where the NBI fibre network is being built, before attending the launch of the 200th Broadband Connection Point at Drumhowan Community Centre in Monaghan.
