Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
99. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan is on track to reach the forecast of 95% of premises having access to high-speed broadband by 2025. [9861/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by NBI that, as of 17 February 2023, over 129,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 118,600 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection.
National Broadband Ireland had a target of 102,000 premises to be passed by the end of January and this target was exceeded. NBI is on track to meet or exceed its 2023 cumulative target of 185,000 premises passed. NBI remains confident that it can complete the network build within the 7 year contracted period.
The Government of Ireland’s National Digital Strategy (NDS), Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, is helping to drive the digital transition across the economy and society, to the benefit of all.
The Digital Connectivity Strategy which is a sub-Strategy of the NDS was published on 9th December 2022. Its ambition is to make connectivity available to everyone, including through the National Broadband Plan, Remote Working Hubs and Broadband Connection Points, with a target of having all Irish households and businesses covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028 and all populated areas covered by 5G no later than 2030.
NBI have created 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 and connected 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: nbi.ie/reps.
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 17 February 2023, 864 SCP sites (282 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 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. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/
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/.
