Written Answers Nos. 108-120
108. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the National Cyber Security Centre has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) within the NCSC; if any section of the NCSC currently makes use of A.I.; if he can outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; and if NCSC has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of A.I. [41116/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) earlier this year issued advice to Public Sector Bodies on the cybersecurity implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). The advice covered the risks associated with sensitive data being inputted to GenAI systems, the risks associated with relying on the outputs of the systems, as well as technical advice around the security of GenAI systems. The guidance also covered the potential misuse of GenAI by malicious cyber actors. The NCSC recommends that as with all new technology, such as GenAI it should only be adopted based on a clearly defined business need following an appropriate risk assessment. The advice also provided some Do’s and Don’ts for staff on using AI securely. In drawing up this advice, the NCSC consulted with a wide number of entities, in both public and private sectors but did not commission any consultancy services.
The NCSC does not discuss operational issues, or the tools, software or procedures used in defending against cyber security incidents.
109. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline Ireland's position on the establishment of a loss and damage fund at COP-28, including whether the Government is pushing for it to be widely available to all countries in the Global South impacted by climate change, for contributions to be the responsibility of countries of the Global North with historical responsibility for the climate crisis; if he will advocate that market-based mechanisms, such as GlobalShield, will not be included as loss and damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41126/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraLoss and Damage is a core priority for Ireland’s work on climate change, where Ireland has taken an active role in both the negotiations and in the Transitional Committee, established to set up the fund.
Ireland recognises that many vulnerable countries are acutely at risk to the impacts of climate change and that often it is the countries that have contributed least to global emissions that are bearing the brunt of these impacts. In line with our broader position on climate finance, Ireland seeks to prioritise particularly vulnerable countries, in the development of funding arrangements for Loss and Damage. Often these countries and communities struggle to access finance from other climate funds. Ireland advocates for the fund to be designed in a manner which enables the most vulnerable countries to access finance when it is needed.
Sources of funding for loss and damage is also a key issue for Ireland. The existing financial mechanisms are falling short of what is needed to address loss and damage. These existing mechanisms should be built on and strengthened, not only by leveraging finance to increase finance flows, but also by bringing different organisations together to ensure that there is coherence across the spectrum of loss and damage response.
The scale of finance is a big gap in the current loss and damage landscape and all possible avenues for finance need to be explored, including by inviting contributions from new donors, and encouraging contributions from the private sector and philanthropic donors. Opportunities within the reform of the multilateral development banks to increase climate finance, in a manner that supports people and communities in the most vulnerable developing countries, should also be explored.
Ireland also recognises the urgency of action on loss and damage and believes that a solution must be designed that will be operational as soon as possible, recognising the urgent need to scale up support to those who have not contributed to global emissions, but are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.
110. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he supports Ireland becoming part of the group of the states advocating for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty; if he will outline Ireland's policy on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41127/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur reliance on fossil fuels is incompatible with the Paris Agreement and a low-carbon future. Ireland supports measures that reinforce and advance our transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels. We are taking action both domestically and internationally to tackle our reliance on fossil fuels. Following the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (under the National Treasury Management Agency) divested from fossil fuel companies and holds a list of companies in which it will not invest. Ireland has also ended the issuing of new exploration licences for fossil fuels and will manage existing authorisations towards a natural conclusion, through expiration, relinquishment, or production. International collaboration is key to achieving the widespread, transformative change needed to tackle climate change. At COP26, Ireland joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance as a core member because of our determination to shift the global relationship with nature from a place of extraction to rehabilitation.
This commitment was demonstrated further at COP27 when Ireland joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance to create a global driving force for the uptake of offshore wind through political mobilisation and the creation of a global community of practice. At this year’s COP28 Ireland will continue to advocate for the move away from fossil fuels.
111. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on Climate Action Fund contributions in the years 2020 to 2023 inclusive, to break these contributions down by industry and by sector within each industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41229/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on Climate Action Fund contributions in each of the years 2020 to 2023 inclusive; to break these contributions down, by industry and by sector within each industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41623/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 119 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to contributions into the Climate Action Fund (CAF) is provided below in tabular format. Income from the NORA levy for 2023 is expected at the end of the year and the euro figure shown is an estimate only. Similarly, 2023 income relating to flight emissions offsets will not be known until next year.
|
Income |
Sector |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
NORA Levy |
Energy |
28m |
96m |
92m |
80m* |
|
Energy Efficiency National Fund unspent monies |
Public Sector/Government |
- |
21.5m |
- |
- |
|
Civil Service Emissions Offsets |
Public Sector/Government |
78k |
93k |
367k* |
This is not yet known |
|
Vote transfer for Bord na Mona Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme |
Public Sector/Government |
- |
7.6m |
- |
- |
|
EU Recovery and Resilience Facility |
EU funding |
- |
- |
- |
20m* |
(*estimate only)
The detail requested by the Deputy in relation to contributions into the CAF broken by industry is not available.
112. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Environmental Protection Agency is involved in the issuing of all waste licences for landfill sites, or if it is only involved in the issuing of licences for larger landfill sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41292/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertakes a range of regulatory tasks relating to the licensing, permitting, consenting or certification of activities that could have an impact on the environment or on human health.
For more information on licensing processes, including information on waste activities are regulated by Local Authorities and the EPA respectively, please see Licensing & Permitting | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) www.epa.ie/our-services/licensing/.
113. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41388/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
While an indicative timeframe of when it is expected that fibre connectivity will be provided to this premises is published on the NBI website, officials in my Department have enquired if there is any further information that would enable me to provide a more narrow delivery timeframe other than what’s currently available. NBI have advised of a current forecast date for delivery of the network to the region referred to in the Question as being 2026.
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 15th September some 950 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 Clare 7 BCP’s have been installed to date. The site at Cree Community Centre, V15FY28, which is now connected, is located approximately 4km from premises referred to in the Question. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
NBI have set out indicative dates as to when residents in this area will have full fibre broadband available to order. The detailed surveys and designs have not yet been completed and therefore it is not possible to give a definitive date for connection. As NBI are working across all counties and as the fibre deployment must start at the local exchange and work its way out towards more rural areas, it is not possible for NBI to accelerate the rollout to this Eircode to a date that is sooner than 2026. However, every effort is being made to rollout the network as fast as possible.
In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023.
The National Broadband Plan intervention contract provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas. The intervention area covers over 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
These targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the details of those companies who are obligated entities in terms of energy savings; the extent of the obligation in each case; the opportunities for charitable bodies to seek support from such bodies to improve their energy consumption; and whether each entity has published contact details for those who wish to participate. [41395/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) places a legal requirement on certain energy companies (known as "obligated parties") that operate in the liquid fuel, solid fuel, natural gas and electricity sectors in Ireland to deliver energy savings by supporting homes, businesses and other organisations to implement energy efficiency improvement measures. Only energy companies with sales above a threshold of 400GWh are obligated.
Each obligated party is set a specific target in accordance with the provisions of the European Union (Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme) Regulations 2022 (Statutory Instrument 522 of 2022.) EEOS has been designed to meet 60% of Ireland's energy efficiency target for 2030 under Article 7 of the 2018 EU Energy Efficiency Directive amounting to 36,424 GWh cumulative end-use energy savings. Individual obligated party targets are not published - the target assigned to an individual obligated party relates to their share of the total eligible sales (as calculated in accordance with the Regulations.)
I recently issued Energy Efficiency Notices under SI 522 of 2022 to the following 17 energy companies setting out their annual targets under the EEOS for 2023-2030
|
1. |
Bord Gáis Energy Limited |
10. |
Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery Limited |
|
2. |
Bord na Móna Energy Limited |
11. |
LCC Group Limited |
|
3. |
Calor Teoranta |
12. |
Orsted Ireland Green Energy Limited |
|
4. |
Circle K Ireland Energy Limited |
13. |
PrepayPower Limited |
|
5. |
Energia Customer Solutions Limited |
14. |
SSE Airtricity Limited |
|
6. |
ESB Independent Energy Limited |
15. |
Stafford Fuels Limited |
|
7. |
Flogas Ireland Limited |
16. |
Tedcastles Oil Products Unlimited Company |
|
8. |
Homefire Ireland Limited |
17. |
Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited |
|
9. |
Inver Energy Limited |
In meeting their annual target, obligated parties must meet 3 sub-targets - at least 10% of the target must be met in the residential sector, at least 5% in energy efficiency improvements for those in energy poverty and the remaining 85% is "cross-sector." To achieve cross-sector energy credits towards their targets by delivering energy efficiency improvement measures, the works undertaken by the obligated party must result in verifiable energy efficiency improvements in a building, transport or a manufacturing process and the obligated party must have been material to the implementation of the measures.
Any organisation, including charitable bodies, seeking support from an obligated party should contact the obligated party to ascertain their interest in participating in a project and that the scheme criteria would be met, in advance of undertaking works. Some obligated parties may have contact information on their websites. The scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who host information on the scheme (including contact details for obligated parties) on their website and who can confirm up-to-date contact details for obligated parties, where required. The SEAI team can be contacted at eeos@seai.ie.
115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date regarding the small-scale generation scheme; when it will be published and launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41436/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Small Scale Renewable Support Scheme (SRESS) will support non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW, but smaller than those supported under the RESS. This scheme will enable community projects, larger businesses, farms, and public buildings to maximise their participation in the energy transition.
The first phase of SRESS was launched in July 2023. This sees both SRESS and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) providing grant support to larger businesses, farms, public buildings, and communities with grants that support solar installations. These non-domestic scheme grants are supporting renewables self-consumers to invest in systems of up to 1MW in size.
Community and SME projects between 1 MW and 6 MW and export only projects below 1 MW will be supported by a SRESS premium export tariff. This second phase of SRESS is due to launch in Q4 2023.
116. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a property (details supplied) where the present supplier say they cannot provide 30Mbps was not included in the National Broadband roll-out; the steps now intended to be taken to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41544/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High-Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by National Broadband Ireland as commercial operators are already providing high-speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. Under State aid rules, it is not permitted to intervene in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned, as to do so would be an infringement of these rules. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
I am advised that this premises should currently be capable of receiving speeds of between 70mbps and 100mbps over Open eir’s copper network. However, Officials in my Department will contact Open eir to determine whether there is a fault on the line that may be impacting these speeds.
Furthermore, the premises is part of Open eir’s national fibre rollout, currently underway nationwide. My officials are also seeking further information as to when Open eir plan to deploy fibre to this area, and I will revert to the Deputy once an update is received.
Along with the advancement of the National Broadband Plan in areas not included in industry plans, commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already connected over 68,000 homes and businesses in Co. Galway to gigabit services, with a further c.32,900 planned connections over the next 2 – 3 years, bringing their total fibre-based investment in the county to over €50m. Other commercial operators are also continuing to increase their network footprint right across the State, with SIRO recently reaching a milestone of enabling 520,000 premises for full fibre, and Virgin Media announcing plans to bring 2Gbps services to 345,000 premises through upgrade and expansion of their own network.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2, 2023 saw a 7.4% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to the first 3 months of the year, and a 33.7% increase when compared to Quarter 2 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing greatly as the services are deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable.
In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023
The National Broadband Plan intervention contract provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas. The intervention area covers over 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.
These targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
117. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of Bills prepared by his Department in the 33rd Dáil to date; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessment; the title of the RIAs published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41588/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of Bills and Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIAs) prepared by my Department from June 2020 to date are set out in the table attached.
|
Bills prepared but not yet enacted over the period requested |
Bills prepared and enacted over the period requested (Acts) |
Title of RIA published |
Reason why no RIA was prepared |
Number of Bills prepared each year |
Number of Bills that included an RIA each year |
|
June – Dec 2020 |
1 |
0 |
|||
|
National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Act |
None prepared |
Due to the time constraints for the preparation of the legislation, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
2021 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act |
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act RIA 2021 |
||||
|
2022 |
5 |
0 |
|||
|
Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act |
None prepared for the primary legislation |
RIA are being carried out, where relevant, in respect of the secondary legislation which will give effect to measures provided for in the Act. An RIA was carried out in 2022 on the introduction of the coffee cup levy entitled - 2022 Levy on Single Use Disposable Cups Analysis Ireland |
|||
|
Eirgrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act |
None prepared |
This emergency legislation relates to the procurement of emergency generation to ensure security of electricity supply. Due to the time constraints associated with this, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act |
None prepared |
This emergency legislation related to the provision of temporary emergency electricity generation. Due to the time constrains associated with this, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act |
None prepared |
This emergency legislation established the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for the purpose of making emergency payments to households due to exceptionally high energy prices. Due to the time constrains associated with this, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Act |
None prepared |
This emergency legislation established the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme II for the purpose of making emergency payments to households due to continued exceptionally high energy prices. Due to the time constrains associated with this, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
2023 |
6 |
4 |
|||
|
Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023 initiated |
Draft RIA - General Scheme of Energy (Windfall Gain in the Energy Sector) Bill 2023 |
||||
|
Energy Windfall Gains in the Energy sector (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act |
Draft RIA - General Scheme of Energy (Windfall Gain in the Energy Sector) Bill 2023 |
||||
|
Communications Regulation & Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act |
RIA Communications and Regulation 2022 |
||||
|
Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuel Functions Act |
None prepared |
The oil emergency contingency provisions within the Act were required urgently to enhance Government’s capacity to respond to a severe or prolonged oil emergency. Due to the time constrains associated with this, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Act 2023 |
None prepared |
This emergency legislation facilitated licence applications for emergency backup electricity generation to be considered in good time. Due to the time constrains associated with this, an RIA was not prepared. |
|||
|
Gas Amendment Bill 2023 initiated |
RIA on Gas (Amendment) Bill |
||||
|
Overall totals over the period requested |
13 Bills |
5 RIAs |
118. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will make a statement on projections by the CRU that energy prices are unlikely to return to 2020 levels; and if he plans to legislate to require energy providers to pass on the benefit of reduced wholesale prices to consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41619/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive.
Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999.
Although there has been a welcome reduction in wholesale gas prices in Europe prices remain significantly higher than pre-crisis levels.
In the past weeks, price reductions have been announced by the main energy suppliers who share approximately 98% of both the retail electricity market and the retail gas market in Ireland. These suppliers have announced price reductions between 9 and 30% and customers can expect to see this reflected in retail bills (for households and businesses) over coming months.
However, supplier hedging that results in a significant proportion of energy purchased several months in advance may impact the ability of suppliers to reduce prices, notwithstanding the decline in the wholesale cost of gas.
Customers struggling with their bills are strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier. I understand suppliers will not disconnect customers that continue to engage with them and that suppliers have additional customers supports in place, including hardship funds. An Taoiseach and I recently met with the heads of the main energy suppliers, who confirmed that this support will continue through winter 2023/24.
Given that prices are no longer regulated, they are set by all suppliers as entirely commercial and operational matters by them. The CRU is held accountable by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action and not the Minister. The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
120. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when an address (details supplied) will have fibre broadband; the reason that they are being told the year 2027 is when they will receive it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41657/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
NBI will 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 15th September 2023, 182,250 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. 53,695 premises are already connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network. Furthermore, as of 31st August 22,013 premises in County Cork are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection with 6,545 premises now connected.
NBI have advised that surveying for the Bantry region is due to begin in November 2023. Surveys are needed to establish the condition of existing poles and ducts, to ascertain whether repairs are needed. NBI’s contractors walk the fibre route to inspect infrastructure and gather detailed information on local conditions and this work is on-going. Following survey work, NBI will carry out detailed designs and work on upgrading poles, ducts and rolling out the fibre cable will be carried out over the next twelve months. NBI’s current forecast date for delivery of the network in Bantry is 2026.
NBI have set out indicative dates as to when residents in this area will have full fibre broadband available to order. The detailed surveys and designs have not yet been completed and therefore it is not possible to give a definitive date for connection. As NBI are working across all counties and as the fibre deployment must start at the local exchange and work its way out towards more rural areas, it is not possible for NBI to accelerate the rollout to this Eircode to a date that is sooner than 2026. However, every effort is being made to rollout the network as fast as possible.
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 15th September some 950 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.
The closest Broadband Connection Point is located at Glengarriff Community Centre, P75V067, which is now connected to high speed broadband. This is located approximately 10km from premises referred to in the Question and provides an option for local residents to access quality broadband for free. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2, 2023 saw a 7.4% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to the first 3 months of the year, and a 33.7% increase when compared to Quarter 2 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing massively as it’s deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable.
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 a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
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/.
