Brendan Griffin
Question:126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18530/24]
View answerThursday, 25 April 2024
Questions (126)
Written answers
In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023
NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.
The remaining targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The Question refers to a 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 is to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
The latest information on when high-speed broadband will become available to this premises can be found on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) website at nbi.ie/map/. This website is regularly updated providing the expected timeline for delivery and status of any works that are initiated at any point in time. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
NBI have advised that the delay in connection is due to a blockage within the third party owned Infrastructure. In order to connect the customer, this blockage needs to be cleared. Regrettably, there is no exact connection date at this moment in time; however, their Connections team are actively working towards a solution. As soon as the blockage is cleared, the contractor will reach out to the customer to schedule an installation date.