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National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Ceisteanna (113, 148)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

113. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that is being made on the roll-out of fibre broadband under the National Broadband contract; the commitments that have been received in respect of accelerating the roll-out targets consequent on negotiations in this regard with the contractor; the public expenditure to date on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28256/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

148. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to accelerate the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28370/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 148 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 and almost 11,900 premises connected, demonstrating the project continues to gain momentum.

My Department has worked with NBI to agree an Updated Interim Remedial Plan (UIRP) which recalibrated the targets for 2022 to take account of the knock on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other delays to the programme. The revised target is 102,000 premises passed by the end of January 2023 (cumulative). 

NBI are implementing a number of measures to help lessen the impact that delays have had on the rollout. Such measures include:

  Increasing the rate of pole replacement and duct remediation per month

Bringing in additional NBI resources

Earlier procurement of materials used in the build stages

Bringing in additional subcontractors.

The focus will continue to be on ensuring that the NBI build programme is back on track and is gaining momentum month on month.

The total cost of the NBP programme since 2016, when the procurement process commenced, is €269.07 million. This figure largely comprises the first thirty-three subsidy payments to NBI amounting to €220.04 million in relation to the construction of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) high-speed broadband network.  It also includes fees for external advisors, who supported the Department's NBP team during the procurement process and who now assist the Department in governing and monitoring the contract obligations of NBI.

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