Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:229. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if the national broadband plan will extend high-speed broadband to Portrane, County Dublin. [35264/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 10 November 2020
Ceisteanna (229)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed last November to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years. As of 4 November, almost 122,000 premises across 25 counties have been surveyed by NBI, which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. This activity involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This is informing design solutions for provision of the fibre network. This detailed design is then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with eir for the area, where eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose. It is also used to initiate works with the subcontractors deploying the actual fibre in the area.The first fibre to the home connections are expected next month in Carrigaline, Co Cork and they will be subject to technical testing and validation prior to a wider release of the area. I am advised that from the end of January retailers will be able to resell the service and householders in this areas will be able to order high speed broadband provided via the NBI network.The National Broadband Plan will extend into Portrane and premises within the townlands of Burrow, Quay and Portrane Demesne. Further details are available on specific areas within Dublin through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 30 October, some 187 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and 59 of these are now connected with high speed publicly accessible broadband through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. In addition, school BCPs will be provided with high speed broadband, for educational use only, through a service provider contract managed by the Department of Education and Skills. To date, 6 schools have been connected with high speed broadband for educational access only.
In Dublin, Glenasmole Community Centre, Man of War GAA and Fingal Ravens GAA Club have now been connected with high speed publicly accessible broadband, with more locations planned over the coming months. Balscadden National School has also been connected for educational access only as part of this initiative. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.