Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3455. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the various forms of funding made available by her Department to local authorities regarding broadband connection points and remote working hubs; and the resources for areas that do not require broadband connection points for remote working due to the levels of connectivity. [41049/21]
View answerThe Broadband Connection Point (BCP) initiative is a key element of the National Broadband Plan and of Our Rural Future. BCPs are local facilities typically located in rural and isolated areas without adequate broadband services. These sites are provided with temporary high-speed broadband connections which will remain in place until fibre services are available at the site. It is planned to put in place some 300 BCPs in total.
These local facilities provide onsite internet use to their communities, supporting a range of services and activities including eHealth, remote working, arts and culture, and training and education. Currently, there are 203 Broadband Connection Points live and in use with more sites added on a regular basis. The remaining sites are in the process of being surveyed, installed or tested. The map of live BCPs can be found at: myconnectedcommunity.ie/. My Department, and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, continues to support and invest in the BCP network.
Earlier this year I launched the Connected Hubs Fund. All BCPs and established hubs were able to apply for funding to increase capacity at their facilities. Last week I was delighted to announce 117 successful applicants were awarded a combined €8.8M, a significant increase on the €5M originally allocated to the Fund. The Fund not only supports hubs and BCPs to provide services to remote workers, but also promotes the National Hub Network and its shared resource, connectedhubs.ie
Since the platform launched, 121 hubs have signed on and are now using the platform. Furthermore, the number of hubs mapped through the Western Development Commission's hub discovery process has increased to 409. These can all be found at connectedhubs.ie/nationalhubsmap.html. This interactive map provides useful information in relation to each of the hubs and the services that are available at each site.
Furthermore, since 2016 my Department has invested more than €50 million in the development of remote working facilities through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Investment in new remote working facilities will continue in 2021 through further calls for both schemes and I hope to add in additional schemes and supports for remote and co-working hubs, BCPs and other initiatives that help people to remain in their communities and encourage those living in the cities to consider a move to rural areas.
