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National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022

Thursday, 7 April 2022

Ceisteanna (111, 113, 140, 209, 211)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date with the roll-out of the National Broadband Scheme; if the roll-out is going to plan; the number of houses and businesses that have been passed to date by the service; the number that are projected to be passed by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18764/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the progress of the National Broadband roll-out. [18486/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the provision of broadband throughout the country is adequately meeting the ongoing requirements with particular reference to providing high-speed, high-quality broadband in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to the needs of job retention and job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18768/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the extension of broadband throughout the country continues as anticipated; the extent to which targets are not being met or are ahead of target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19119/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which modern high-speed broadband is readily available in all areas throughout the country or will be in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 211, 209, 140 and 113 together. Despite the unprecedented challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, National Broadband Ireland (NBI) has made steady progress on delivery of the new high speed fibre broadband network under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). I am advised by NBI that as of 31 March 2022, over 312,000 premises have been surveyed and over 169,000 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties. I am further advised that almost 60,000 premises are now available to order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 22 counties, with over 41,000 premises passed across 19 counties and available for immediate connection. In addition to the premises completed, build is underway on over 128,000 premises, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale.

In line with a remedial plan to address Covid-19 related delays which was agreed with my Department in April 2021, NBI had expected to have almost 60,000 premises passed and available for immediate connection by the end of January 2022 which is the end of Contract Year 2. 

In addition to the challenges to the delivery of the NBP due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NBI has faced a range of other challenges due to the sheer scale and complexity of rolling out fibre to the home in a rural environment. These include significant tree trimming to ensure cable can be placed on overhead poles, remediation of ducting that has been in place for many decades, the co-ordination of hundreds of contracting crews and addressing the many issues arising week on week which could not have been foreseen until the build crews commenced work on the ground.

NBI has implemented a number of measures to help lessen the impact that these challenges have had on the rollout including:-

- Increasing the rate of pole replacement and duct remediation per month;

- Bringing in additional NBI resources;

- Earlier procurement of material used in the build stages; and

- Bringing in additional subcontractors

The Department has worked with NBI to agree an Updated Interim Remedial Plan (UIRP) which recalibrates the targets for 2022 to take account of the knock on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other delays to the Programme, with a revised target of 102,000 premises passed by the end of January 2023 (Contract Year 3). The focus for 2022 is to continue to build momentum, and catch up on the delays experienced.

With regards to job creation, the NBP has delivered significant employment opportunities to date, with NBI providing direct and indirect employment to some 1,270 people, including some 293 direct employees and some 977 employees working with build/design contractors on foot of the NBP investment, with this number rising as the construction activity ramps up. The delivery of the NBP is seen as a key enabler of many aspects of the Programme for Government. It will allow policies around remote working and remote service delivery to be realised to their full potential throughout the country no matter how remote the location.

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 31 March 2022, 551 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 accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs.

At the end of 2021, total broadband subscriptions in Ireland stood at 1.93m subscriptions, 87% of which had speeds equal to or greater than 30Mbps. The NBP will provide a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 554,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. A number of commercial operators have also announced further investment plans in high-speed broadband. Eir has said it will roll out fibre to 1.9 million premises by the end of 2026, while SIRO has announced a €620 million upgrade and expansion of its fibre to the home network to reach 770,000 homes and business. Virgin Media has announced a €200 million investment to upgrade its network for 1 million premises over the next three years. Many other network operators and telecom service providers across the State also continue to invest in their networks.

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