Robert Troy
Ceist:272. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Rathcaled and Ballynacarrigy, County Westmeath, will have access to broadband and high speed broadband. [43242/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 3 December 2015
Ceisteanna (272, 273)
Robert Troy
Ceist:273. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Castletown and Finnea, County Westmeath, will have access to high speed broadband, given that at present there is extremely limited telephone and Internet coverage leaving persons in that area at a considerable disadvantage. [43243/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together.
The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being 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 currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services. 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 areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services.
The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention and includes Rathcaled, Ballynacarrigy, Castletown and Finnea Co Westmeath.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
I can confirm that next generation broadband services have been rolled out to over 20,000 premises to date in County Westmeath with over 6,500 more expected to be served by commercial investment. Approximately 17,800 remaining premises in County Westmeath will be covered either by further commercial investment or be the target for the proposed State intervention under the NBP. The breakdown of premises covered per townland is available on the high speed Broadband map.
Over 40 responses were received following the publication of the NBP proposed Intervention Strategy in July last. Non-confidential versions of these submissions are being published and can be accessed at www.Broadband.gov.ie.
Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals. I expect to proceed to formal procurement before the end of the year.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with an ambition of 100% coverage by end of 2020.