Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
59. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the time frame for a property (details supplied) to be connected to broadband through the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44717/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra60. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the full roll-out of broadband through the National Broadband Plan to County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44718/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed in November 2019 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.
Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. I am advised by NBI that, as of 21 December 2020, over 153,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. 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.In County Roscommon there are 19,126 premises within the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan. NBI have advised that approximately 3,600 premises (around 20%) have been surveyed by 21 December including the areas of Ballymurray, Athleague, Castlecoote, Donamon, Ballymacurley, Lackan, Kilroosky and Fourmilehouse.
The premises referred to in the Question is located in the Intervention Area and surveys are planned by NBI to commence in that location by Q3 next year. I am advised that NBI is targeting the following indicative dates for further surveying in Roscommon within the next 18 months.
|
Roscommon Deployment Area |
No. of Premises |
Timelines |
|
Castlerea |
4347 |
2021 Q2 |
|
Elphin |
2483 |
2022 Q2 |
|
Curraghboy |
1721 |
2022 Q3 |
Further details are available on specific areas within Roscommon 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.
I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans.
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 21 December, 241 publicly accessible BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Locations in County Roscommon include Cam Community Centre (3.4kms from the premises referred to in the Question), Saint Patrick's Hall, Tawnytaskin Community Centre, Gortaganny Resource Centre and Creeve Community Centre. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Termon National School is installed by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative and Ballagh National School is installed and connected. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just been announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/
