Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 October 2021
73. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a village (details supplied) will be connected by National Broadband Ireland;if this has changed to the initial plan in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51587/21]
View answerThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode. - Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
I am advised that while a small number of premises in the village of Ahascragh are in the AMBER area, the majority of premises are designated as part of the BLUE area. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the NBP as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
In terms of those premises in the townland of Lowville, Ahascragh that are designated as AMBER, I am advised by NBI that deployment to this area has already occurred and that these premises should now be able to place an order for high speed broadband from retail service providers who will deliver services to end users through the NBI network.
