Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
174. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the aids available to alleviate costs for a community hall providing broadband to members of the community ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/24]
View answerBroadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the National Broadband Plan and are located in areas of community importance, allowing local residents to quickly get free public access to high-speed broadband in advance of fibre deployment under the National Broadband Plan.
Broadband Officers in each Local Authority were tasked with consulting with local communities and businesses to find the appropriate mix of locations for BCPs to reap the maximum benefits.
NBI reports that all 955 Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) sites have been installed before the end of 2023, of which 283 are publicly accessible Broadband Connection Point sites now connected with high-speed broadband service through a service provider contract with Vodafone. The remaining 672 installed SCPs are part of the SCP Schools Programme.
The typical BCP will receive a 150/30mbps service from NBI. This will be achieved via a temporary wireless broadband connection that will stay in place until the premises is passed by fibre services.
Vodafone Ireland supplies and supports the superfast WiFi at each site. The equipment used is enterprise grade standard and includes indoors and outdoors WiFi access points.
My Department does not provide any assistance to alleviate costs for community halls providing broadband to members of the community.
