In December 2022, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy was published which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and set out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028.
The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
Along with the NBP intervention plan, progress is being made by commercial operators in expanding their next generation networks throughout the country including the deputy’s own county of Mayo ensuring the targets set out in the Digital Connectivity Strategy are achieved. These plans will see improved high speed broadband access across County Mayo.
I have been advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that 17,470 premises are now able to order/pre-order a high-speed fibre broadband network in County Mayo, with 4,892 premises now connected. A further circa 20,800 premises in County Mayo will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of the network deployment.
County Mayo comprises 26 Deployment Areas (D.A.s) of which 16 including Achill, Ballina and Castlebar are currently at the Available to Pre-Order/Available to Order stage. In relation to Mayo’s islands, the D.A.’s of Achill Beg, Clare Island, and Inisbiggle are also at the Available to Pre-Order/Available to Order stage.
The National Broadband Plan remains on schedule and within budget.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Mayo which 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. It should be noted that NBI provide this information for County Mayo based on NBI deployment areas rather than exact county boundaries.
In addition to the progress outlined above, since 2023, NBI has provided technical connectivity to 58 primary schools in Mayo, delivered by various Retail Service Providers (RSPs) under contract to the Department of Education and Youth. NBI has also provided connectivity to 16 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) in County Mayo, delivered by RSPs under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
As the Fibre rollout progresses nationwide, schools and BCPS that initially had wireless connections are being upgraded to fibre under a Service Transition Programme.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has also confirmed to my officials that there are no requirements to have broadband in place in BCPs in order to draw down funding under either the LEADER or CLÁR programs.
