Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
65. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the broadband roll-out timeframe for when areas in mid-Cork that are currently in the survey pending phase will move to survey underway; and when the areas in the survey underway phase will move to the design and network build phase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28347/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra66. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the area in mid-Cork that is currently in the survey pending phase of broadband roll-out will be next to move to survey underway phase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28348/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 20 May 2022, over 327,600 premises have now been surveyed and over 175,300 premises are under construction or complete across 26 counties, demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. I am further advised that almost 67,700 premises are now available to order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 23 counties, with over 56,600 premises passed across 22 counties and available for immediate connection. NBI has advised that almost 5,800 premises have been passed with high speed broadband in County Cork.
The queries raised in the Questions regarding the timeframes for surveying phases in mid-Cork are an operational matter for NBI. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries. Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork 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 as works commence.
NBI has made recent improvements to its website to enhance the provision of information to Oireachtas members. NBI has now completed a suite of changes, creating a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: www.nbi.ie/reps.
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 20 May, 584 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. In County Cork 23 BCP’s have been installed to date. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
In County Cork 45 schools have been installed by NBI to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
