Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
695. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the implementation of the national broadband plan; if all the areas in County Longford and County Westmeath requiring State intervention have now been identified; the areas in these counties that require State intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13392/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers plan to deliver high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas on the map show the target areas for the State intervention. The website also provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including Longford and Westmeath.
The map can be checked to establish the precise location of individual premises or residences. Any premises within the AMBER area will be included in the State’s intervention while any premises within the BLUE area will be serviced by commercial operators.
