Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
152. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current annual spending on rural broadband; the projected annual investment over the next five years per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41457/22]
View answerThe contract for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) provides that a future proofed high speed broadband network will be deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to people living and working in the intervention area. It is expected that over 600,000 premises, including new builds, will be served by the fibre network.
The maximum possible cost to the State for the NBP network will be €2.7 billion over 25 years. The majority of this subsidy will be used over the years 2022 to 2030 as NBI achieve deployment milestones and connects premises. The total cost also includes €480m in conditional subsidy that may be triggered in a limited number of specific circumstances.
Exchequer spend on the NBP in 2022 to date is €72.7 million. The revised Budget allocation available for the NBP for 2022 is €195 million. Annual budgets will be agreed based on target projections each year until the Programme is complete.
