National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023

Thursday, 27 April 2023

Questions (135)

Colm Burke

Question:

135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll out of the National Broadband Plan in Cork; the total number of premises falling under the NBP remit in Cork; the total number of premises that are now available to pre-order/order broadband and the total number of premises still pending survey; if these figures are on target with the number of premises to be passed in Cork by 31 March 2023; his plans to accelerate the delivery of the programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19741/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

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.

As of 31 March 2023, 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 and 3,029 Pending Survey.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork via nbi.ie/reps. NBI has a dedicated email address, [e-mail], 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 2023, 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 129,000 premises with gigabit services. Siro has passed more then 53,000 premises with Virgin Media passing almost 8,500 premises.

The NBP build programme is currently on track to meet the 185,000 target for January 2024. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the contracted period.