Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
142. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider the designation of broadband as an essential service, particularly in light of its critical role in healthcare, remote monitoring, education, and employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15268/26]
View answerIreland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, recognises the critical role of broadband in supporting healthcare, remote monitoring, education, and employment.
The Strategy sets ambitious targets to ensure high-speed broadband is available to all, including providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028. The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future, published in January 2025, further reinforces this commitment by setting 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 primary initiative to deliver these high-speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. Through the NBP Contract, the Government helps to ensure broadband services are available to all citizens, businesses and farms in areas where the commercial operators do not operate.
In addition to these strategic targets, the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband, as set out under the European Union Communications Code Regulations 2022, ensures that an 'adequate broadband' service will be available to all consumers at an affordable price. This regulatory safety net will ensure that every citizen has access to a connection capable of supporting essential services, reinforcing the status of broadband as a fundamental utility in modern Irish life. In 2026 the Department is conducting the background work, in collaboration with ComReg to define this, and set this USO.
Along with the NBP intervention contract, progress is being made by commercial operators Open Eir, Virgin Media and Siro in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State in the non-intervention area.
The Department maintains ongoing and regular engagement with commercial operators to monitor the progress of their gigabit broadband network upgrades. This is further supported by ComReg’s role in monitoring and reporting on national broadband availability, with real-time data made accessible to the public via its Broadband Checker. This oversight ensures that the essential needs of citizens regarding healthcare, education and employment are met.
