Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
179. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 21 February 2023, if he will address a series of issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12890/23]
View answerWith reference to this Question and to the reply given to Question No.179 of 21 February 2023 whilst all schools in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area will be passed by the fibre network over the course of the seven year build programme, Government and National Broadband Ireland agreed to accelerate the rollout of high-speed broadband to 679 schools across the State with the use of alternative technologies to ensure a high-speed broadband service was installed, with speeds of at least 150Mbps, to every primary school in the Intervention Area by H1 2023. The aim of accelerating the rollout of this high-speed broadband service was to ensure that the children attending primary schools in rural Ireland were afforded equitable education and learning opportunities as those children attending primary schools in urban areas.On completion of the NBP project, and once sufficient data is available, a Cost Benefit Analysis will be undertaken to determine the benefits of the NBP versus the costs of the programme. In particular the CBA will consider the benefits that high-speed broadband has delivered to primary schools, farms, homes and businesses located in the Intervention Area.Officials in my Department would be happy to facilitate a meeting with representatives from the organisation referred to and would ask this organisation to contact my officials on NBPCommsUnit@decc.gov.ie in order to arrange this meeting.
