National Broadband Plan Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2017

Thursday, 9 November 2017

Ceisteanna (220, 221)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has satisfied himself that a company (details supplied) has complied with the agreement signed with his Department in the roll-out of rural broadband; if there has been adjustment made to the target dates for this roll-out to the end of 2018; if he has satisfied himself that it will complete this programme as promised in connecting 300,000 houses and premises by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47458/17]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises which have access to high speed broadband to date under a contract signed by his Department with a company (details supplied); if this is in line with the target agreed with the company; if not, the steps he will take to deal with the failure to comply with the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47459/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together.

The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland via a combination of commercial investment and State Intervention.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecommunications sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband. By 2020 it is expected that 90% of premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband.

In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide High speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. eir has committed to completing the rollout by the end of 2018.  Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/.  A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.

Quarterly updates are published on this website.  Q1 and Q2 quarterly targets to date have been achieved by eir and published on the website.

Evaluation by my Department of the Q3 update for eir's rural deployment is at an advanced stage and indicates that eir has met its Q3 target of 101,000 premises passed.  County by county statistics are available on my Departments website for Q2 and can be viewed at http://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/County%20Statistics.pdf.  The statistics for Q3 will be published on my Department's website in the coming weeks.