Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019
54. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband tender process; when all homes and businesses in County Donegal will have access to high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14009/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high speed broadband.
Since December 2015, total premises with access to high speed broadband in Donegal has increased from 48% to 64%. In total today, the number of premises in Donegal with access to high speed broadband is 65,212. Another 2,511 will be served by eir under that company’s ongoing rural deployment of a high speed broadband network.
The remaining 34,107 homes, schools and businesses in Donegal are to receive access to high speed broadband under the Government’s National Broadband Plan.
In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address or Eircode.
The final tender was submitted to my department in September. As the deputy is aware from debates here in the house, there is a need for very thorough scrutiny of the submission. This work is being undertaken by my Department in consultation with DPER.
As the Deputy will be aware, the procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.
