Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2024
28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date in the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45438/24]
View answerIreland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) are connecting circa 4,200 homes each month.
I am advised by NBI that over 304,600 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection, which is over half the premises in the Intervention Area. Over 102,600 premises are already connected to the National Broadband Plan high-speed broadband network.
In county Monaghan over 11,709 premises are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and 11,710 available to order/pre-order, with 4,345 premises now connected. A further 4,291 premises in Monaghan will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of the contract.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Monaghan and can be monitored via nbi.ie/reps. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Along with the NBP intervention contract, progress is being made by commercial operators’ in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State and ensuring the targets set out in the Digital Connectivity strategy are achieved.
Open eir have already passed over 15,550 homes and businesses in Monaghan with gigabit services, with plans to pass a further c. 3,417 homes and businesses over the next 2 – 3 years. SIRO are also continuing to increase their network footprint right across Monaghan having recently passed over 1,335 premises for full fibre.
