Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019
414. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed broadband access will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20766/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 4 premises in the townland of Ballycurraghan, Co. Kildare. All 4 fall within the AMBER area of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, and fall within the State-led Intervention.
The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State-led Intervention under the NBP.
This intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State intervention network. Following rigorous evaluation by my Department, I recently brought a recommendation to Government to confer Preferred Bidder status on Granahan McCourt, the remaining bidder in the NBP procurement process and Government agreed to this at its meeting on 7 May.
The Government Decision means that it is intended to award the State Intervention contract to Granahan McCourt, subject to the contract close, including the finalisation of financial and legal documents. Deployment of the NBP State Intervention network will commence shortly after that.
The Bidder has indicated that the NBP State intervention will take an estimated 7 years from the beginning of deployment.
In the first year of roll out, the Bidder will deploy approximately 300 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across all counties. It is anticipated that between 7 and 23 BCPs will be deployed in each county. BCPs will provide a community-based high-speed broadband service, enhancing online participation and allowing for the establishment of digital work hubs in these locations. The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises at the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
