Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Ireland, NBI, broadband service for the deployment area that covers Dunmanway, Ballingeary and Carriganimmy in County Cork; for NBI to provide additional resources to ensure timelines previously provided by NBI are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6758/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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First, I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I wish him every success in his new role.

I want to ask the Minister about the roll-out of broadband by NBI in the area west of Macroom, in particular the switches in Carraig an Ime, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh and Dunmanway. They serve a large rural community from Clondrohid through Cill na Martra and Inchigeelagh on towards Kilmichael and Coppeen. It is a large community that has been very patient and is keen to see that implementation on it soon.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this important issue. The national broadband plan, NBP, is the Government's initiative to deliver high-speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. National Broadband Ireland is connecting more than 4,000 homes each month. In the Deputy’s own county of Cork, more than 36,490 premises are passed with a high-speed broadband network and 40,345 are available to order or preorder, with 12,891 premises now connected. A further 45,505 premises in Cork will be passed by the NBI’s high-speed broadband by the end of the contract. In addition, 91 schools are connected to high-speed broadband through the strategic connection points. Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork and can be monitored via the NBI's website and email.

The NBI roll-out will include the Dunmanway, Ballingeary and Carriganimmy deployment areas, with 4,391, 874 and 4,061 premises, respectively. Dunmanway is at survey complete stage with a timeline of July 2026. Ballingeary is also at the survey complete stage with a timeframe of July 2026 to December 2026, and Carriganimmy deployment is at the survey under way stage with a timeline of July 2026 to December 2026.

The NBI has maintained momentum across the State throughout 2024 and the roll-out is progressing ahead of schedule, with more than 326,000 premises available for connection at the end of 2024, and more than 420,000 forecast for the end of 2025. The NBI is now passing more than 10,000 new homes and businesses with high-speed broadband every month, which leaves the NBI plan well placed to completed by the end of 2026 and within budget.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. People in the area west of Macroom and the communities there feel they have been very patient in waiting on the NBI roll-out - maybe too patient. We were provided last year with data suggesting that the surveys were to be completed last summer and last September in those particular areas. The online monitor suggests that it has not started yet in the Carraig an Ime switch area, which will cover the Baile Bhuirne, Clondrohid and Carraig an Ime area.

I am pleased to note that the Minister of State said the survey is under way there. That is headway but it is still behind what was committed to at this time last year. Surely since the roll-out has been going on lessons have been learned or ways have been found to move more quickly through the later deployments. Have any lessons been learned on how to move it along more quickly that could be applied to those switches, which are some of the last remaining switches in the country?

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy raised an important point. NBI has done a tremendous job on the roll-out. It is an all-of-Ireland contract across each of the Twenty-six Counties and significant progress has been made, as I said. More than 65,000 homes, farms and businesses are being moved to early completion dates in 2025, nine months earlier than had been originally scheduled, so NBI has made significant progress. I come from a rural constituency and there are people in deployment areas who have to wait that bit longer while they see their neighbours being connected up the road. It is just the nature of the contract that NBI has engaged in.

There are other elements within the Department around the digital connectivity strategy where we are looking at the roll-out of 5G across the country by 2030. All households and businesses will be covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028. In parallel with the NBI plan, we are making significant progress to strengthen and build more resilience into our telecommunications system.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise that you have to start somewhere and finish somewhere and that some communities will be served faster than others. However, as I mentioned earlier, we feel we have been very patient in our communities. There is also one on the Minister of State's own doorstep which appears to be toward the latter part of the roll-out. We are sick of waiting. We are sick of it at this stage. Is there some way of digging the boot in on NBI and making it clear that it needs to get on with that roll-out and make it happen for communities such as Baile Bhuirne, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, Inchigeelagh, Kilmichael, Coppeen and that whole area west of Macroom? It must have seen and learned ways from the earlier roll-out in being able to expedite various different switches. In the interests of those communities, can we communicate crystal clear to the NBI that we need it to start its surveys and get on with serving those communities west of Macroom and any other remaining areas?

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy's frustration and the passion he has for the delivery of this in the areas he represents. However, there has been significant progress in the priority areas such as deployment to schools and enterprise hubs and in ensuring that they have the right manpower in each of the areas to cover each of the regions. We have seen the success in many communities in terms of what the connection to NBI has made to the lives of those who need it. I will take the points the Deputy raised. NBI has opened an Oireachtas line for any engagement regarding potential timelines. I will take the Deputy's feedback back to NBI and ensure that we have continuous monitoring of the surveys, build and construction and that those who order or preorder get connected in a timely manner.