Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
70. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when fibre broadband will be available for a home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23739/22]
View answerThe Question refers to premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 29 April 2022, almost 323,000 premises have been surveyed or have survey underway, with almost 175,000 premises constructed or under construction across all counties. NBI has also advised that over 65,500 premises are now available to order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 22 counties, with over 47,100 premises passed across 21 counties and available for immediate connection. In County Cork surveying is complete in the Deployment Areas of Templemartin, Tallow, Kanturk, Fermoy and Clonakilty, main works are underway in the Deployment Areas of Midleton and Youghal and network build is complete in the Deployment Area of Carrigaline. To date over 39,100 premises in County Cork have been surveyed, with over 17,600 premises under construction or complete and over 8,900 premises now available to order or pre-order.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register its interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 29 April 2022, 574 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Cork 23 BCPs have been installed to date including Aubane Community Centre, which is approximately 1.8km from the premises referred to. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Cork 45 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
