Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
166. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ensure adequate and satisfactory access to consistent phone signal and fibre optic broadband for the communities of Seanphobal and An Rinn, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21358/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraProviding telecommunication services is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. As set out in the Programme for Government, ensuring access to high-quality internet connections for people across Ireland is essential to the development of all parts of our country, socially and economically. I recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their daily lives, including remote working, studying and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 crisis.
The level of connectivity to support digital activity has improved significantly in recent years with Ireland’s rank in the EU Digital Economic Society Index (DESI) Score Card improving to 6th overall. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years was in the order of €3.3 billion for fixed and mobile, with a considerable level of continuing investment, which has significantly enhanced the availability of services (both voice and data). ComReg has published a Coverage Map which shows ComReg’s predicted mobile outdoor coverage across Ireland and at specific addresses and/or Eircodes selected by consumers for all Mobile Service Providers. It is available at https://coveragemap.comreg.ie/map. This resource can be of assistance to citizens in identifying which network would best suit their needs.
ComReg is currently managing a licensing process through which telecoms operators can gain access to additional spectrum with a view to providing enhanced services to consumers. This spectrum award process includes specific provisions aimed at further improving coverage where people need it most. In addition to commercial investment, so as to ensure that nobody is left behind in a digital divide, the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) 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 nearly 540,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. 62,470 premises in total in County Waterford, of which 47,470 (76%) premises are served by commercial operators and 15,000 premises (42%) will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention. Government investment in County Waterford under the National Broadband Plan will amount to €59m.
As of 22 April 2021, over 207,000 premises across 26 counties have been surveyed which is ahead of schedule. The next step is for NBI to develop network designs to deliver the new Fibre to the Home network to these premises and substantial design work is underway. Over 11,000 (73%) premises in the Intervention Area have been surveyed in County Waterford including in the areas of Ballinakill, Cheekpoint, Waterford City, Passage East, Kilmeaden, Dunmore East and Tramore. The areas of Seanphobal and An Rinn, Co. Waterford are located in the Dungarvan Intervention Area and will receive access to high speed broadband as part of the NBP.
Further details are available on specific areas within Waterford through the NBI website www.nbi.ie which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates.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 22 April 2021, 304 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 for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education and Skills for schools. In County Waterford, BCP sites at Knockamore, Ballysagart, Mondeligo and Mount Mellarey are now connected by NBI. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Whitechurch National School, Faithlegg National School, Saint Mary's National School and Ballycurrane National School are connected by NBI for educational access as part of this initiative. School BCPs will be provided with high speed broadband for educational use only through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Education. An acceleration of this aspect of the project was announced in December last 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/.
