Aindrias Moynihan
Question:127. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the rollout of the national broadband plan in the west Muskerry area. [19325/23]
View answerThursday, 27 April 2023
Questions (127)
Written answers
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) state led intervention is being delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, signed in November 2019 and which came into effect in January 2020, to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the intervention area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
I am advised by NBI that, as of 14 April 2023 over 147,600 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 135,500 premises passed and available for immediate connection. Over 37,300 premises are connected to the NBP Gigabit network. NBI has also advised that as of 31 March, 15,973 premises in County Cork are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection with 4,890 premises connected.
There are approximately 30 properties in the Muskerry area that are included in the State Intervention to receive high-speed broadband under the National Broadband Plan. This area is part of the Genagh (OLT119) Deployment Area in County Cork The current status of the DA is Survey Pending.
NBI can advise that the Engineering Surveys for the Grenagh Deployment Area will commence before the end of 2023 and will be completed by May 2024. This is an important initial phase of the project and will inform how the new fibre network will be designed and constructed.
NBI envisages commencing fibre construction in the Grenagh Deployment Area in the third quarter of 2025 with live fibre services being available for order in 2026.
It should be noted that given the scale and complexity of the National Broadband Plan, any dates issued, while based on the best available information at the time, are indicative and subject to change.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork via nbi.ie/reps. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) 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 14 April 2023, 895 SCP sites (283 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 612 schools) have been installed. As of 31 March, in County Cork 24 BCP’s have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/. 86 schools have been installed to date for educational access. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
In County Cork Eir has passed almost 129,00 premises with gigabit services. Siro has passed more than 53,000 premises with Virgin Media passing almost 8,500 premises.