Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
605. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which the increased remote working demand is being factored into broadband rollout plans for rural and small-towns in County Laois; whether additional investment will be prioritised to close the digital divide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3692/26]
View answerIn 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) was established to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all regions, including rural and small-town areas such as those in County Laois, have access to gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure. This facilitates remote working and supports balanced regional development.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that there are circa 13,000 premises in the Intervention Area (IA) in County Laois and NBI has passed almost 12,000 of these premises which are ready for service. Over 5,000 of these premises are now connected. NBI expect to have passed the remaining 1,000 premises in County Laois by the end of the network deployment. Based on current plans and achievements, the Department expect to deliver the deployment of the NBP by the end of 2026, as per the Programme for Government commitment.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Laois 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 Laois based on NBI deployment areas rather than exact county boundaries.
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.
Regarding future investment, the 2025 Our Rural Future framework states that “rural Ireland [will not be] left behind in the digital economy,” while the program for government 2025 commits to “increase the number of remote working hubs and ensure dedicated spaces to support local entrepreneurs and starts-ups.”
