Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
844. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the areas in County Wicklow for the provision of broadband not covered by the commercial operators; if he will confirm that this amounts to approximately 30% of County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14835/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra74% of premises in Co. Wicklow will have access to commercial high-speed broadband services by the end of 2016. The remaining 26%, consisting of some 16,574 premises will fall within the proposed State-led intervention under the National Broadband Plan. The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high-quality, high-speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State-led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
The commercial telecommunications sector is investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland expected to have access to commercial high-speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high-speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, blue and amber.
The areas marked blue represent those areas where commercial providers plan to deliver high-speed broadband services by the end of 2016.
The amber area on the map shows the target areas for the State intervention. All premises within the amber areas will be included in the State's intervention.
The website also provides information on a county-by-county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county in Ireland, including County Wicklow.
Intensive design and planning work is under way in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the amber area. Following a public consultation process on the draft intervention strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.
I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and that connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a five-year period. This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for the Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
