Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 December 2022
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of new broadband connections in the past twelve months to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63003/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) state led intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, signed in November 2019 and which came into effect in January 2020, 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 over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
I am advised by NBI that: As of 31 December 2021, over 54,466 premises could order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection with 32,680 premises passed and available for immediate connection. 4,914 connections were completed. As of 02 December 2022, over 112,200 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 25 counties, with over 101,700 premises passed across 25 counties and available for immediate connection. Over 25,800 Connections have been completed. Construction is underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is exceeding projections.
Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) 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 02 December 2022, 823 SCP sites (280 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 543 schools) have been installed 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 BCPs and the Department of Education for school SCPs. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
