Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2019
349. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises in south-west County Cork expected to be connected to high speed broadband in Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22370/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan 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 National Broadband Ireland, 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 number of premises in the constituency of Cork South-West with access to high speed broadband is now 21,922, which equates to 41% of all 52,673 premises in the constituency. Another 4,556 or 9% in Cork South-West will be served by eir under that company’s ongoing rural deployment of a high speed broadband network. The Q1 2019 figures will be available shortly. It is anticipated that eir's 300K roll out will conclude in mid 2019.
The deployment of the network within the National Broadband Plan intervention area, including Cork South-West, will commence at contract award and take up to seven years to complete. Of the premises in Cork South-West, approximately 26,195 (50%) will receive access to high speed broadband through the State intervention. In total, it is estimated that the State will invest €90 million in Co Cork under the NBP.
A deployment plan will be made available by the Bidder once the contract is signed. The Bidder is aiming to pass 133,000 premises by the end of the second year, with 70-100,000 passed each year thereafter until roll out is completed.
