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National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2021

Thursday, 14 October 2021

Questions (25, 34, 76)

Colm Burke

Question:

25. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the roll-out of broadband connection points; the number that have been connected to date by county; the number planned to be connected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50013/21]

View answer

James Lawless

Question:

34. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the roll-out of broadband connection points across Ireland. [50160/21]

View answer

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

76. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the roll-out of broadband connection points in north central areas of Cork city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50121/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 34 and 76 together.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first premises for delivery under the National Broadband Plan. They are publicly accessible sites that serve areas without reliable high-speed broadband, including isolated communities in rural areas and on many of our offshore islands. Sites are provided with a high-speed broadband connection which they make available for onsite community use, including remote work and study.

The Nationwide BCP Network will include approximately 300 sites. To date, 214 BCPs have been completed and are open and serving their local communities. Of these, 16 are in Cork County, with a further 8 planned. Cork City has donated its allowance of 12 BCPs to the County and, as such, there are no BCPs planned for the North Central area of the city at this time. Cork County has the highest number of BCPs of any local authority area.

It is estimated that the current build phase of the BCP network will be achieved in the next 3 months. However, it should be noted that global component shortages may impact the delivery of some sites.

Once this phase of the BCP project has completed, my department will begin to scale up the numerous development activities that it has recently begun trialling. These pilot projects include supports for remote workers and students, a suite of digital skills training courses, arts and culture activities including musical instruction and access to national cultural resources, and a range of eHealth and telemedicine programmes.

I have made available funding of €10,000 per participating local authority to support BCP development activities. This is in addition to significant awards made to BCPs for capital works and equipment purchases under the recent €8.8M Connected Hubs Call.

The locations of planned and completed BCPs may be found at myconnectedcommunity.ie/.

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