Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
801. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for full implementation of the national broadband plan in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12665/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland now have access to high speed broadband. By the end of this year that number will rise to nearly 8 out of 10 premises and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises or 90% of premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This will be achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.
The High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the areas that will be included in the State Intervention and the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services under the NBP. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode.
There are c42,000 premises in County Cavan of which approximately 17,000 (40%) fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State led Intervention. Nearly 19,000 (45%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be covered by commercial providers, while approximately 6,000 (15%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered by eir's planned rural deployment by the end of 2018.
There are approximately 33,000 premises in Monaghan. Just over 15,600 (47%) fall within the AMBER area and will be covered under the State led Intervention. Nearly 14,000 (42%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be covered by commercial providers, while approximately 3,500 (11%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be covered by eir's planned rural deployment by the end of 2018.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to engage a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages.
When the procurement process reaches a satisfactory conclusion and a subsidy level has been approved by Government, a contract will be awarded and the network rollout will commence. Current estimates for rollout indicate the majority of premises in the State intervention area will have access to a high speed broadband connection within 3 years of the beginning of rollout. My Department will continue to engage with the bidder to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract, both nationwide and in Cavan/Monaghan.
Delivering high speed broadband to citizens across Ireland including the c17,000 (40%) premises in Co Cavan and c15,600 (47%) premises in Co Monaghan that fall within the State led Intervention under the NBP remains a firm commitment of mine and this Government.
In the interim, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
