Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
14. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands her plans to increase digital infrastructure and connectivity in County Wexford in view of the increased number of persons working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [24327/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been a dynamic shift in the way we use technology due to Covid-19. Recent research by Comreg found that 77% believe their home broadband is adequate to meet the needs of households. My experience on the ground with the number of people coming into my office each day suggests that in Wexford that percentage is not accurate. What will the Minister do about broadband in Wexford?
I thank the Deputy. The provision of telecommunications services is primarily a matter for commercial providers operating in a liberalised market. Nonetheless, under the national broadband plan, the Government will fund the provision of a high-speed broadband network in areas where it is not commercially viable for service providers to do so. The national broadband plan network, which in under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, will be rolled out to almost 540,000 premises across the country. In parallel, my Department has been working closely with local authorities to identify broadband connection points, BCPs, which will make free, on-site connectivity available to communities in remote areas, including in County Wexford. The BCPs will be situated in publicly accessible buildings such as sports clubs and community centres and will be amongst the first premises to be connected under the national broadband plan. Over the coming months, approximately 300 BCPs will be provided, with a high-speed connection. The locations of the BCPs are available on the website of National Broadband Ireland at www.nbi.ie. Many of the BCPs will facilitate remote working and I firmly believe that remote working and collective working have the potential to transform rural Ireland.
