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Broadband Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2018

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Ceisteanna (167)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

167. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when e-fibre broadband is likely to be rolled out at a location (details supplied). [22743/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government's 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. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to nearly 8 out of 10 premises by the end of this year and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.

The location referred to by the Deputy is in an AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. Access to high speed broadband will be brought to these premises through State Aid Intervention under the NBP.

My Department is the final stages of the formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area.

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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/latest-news/Pages/Broadband-Officers-Workshop.aspx.

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