I ask for an update on broadband for the county. Now that more people are working from home what progress is been made on the delivery of broadband to schools and Community Working Hubs.
Minutes:
To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Sean McDermott;
"I ask for an update on broadband for the county. Now that more people are working from home what progress is been made on the delivery of broadband to schools and Community Working Hubs."
Report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation.
"NBI Fibre-to-the-Home
The National Broadband Plan is a 7-year plan to build a new high-speed fibre broadband network for rural Ireland where deployment is due to be completed by the end of 2026.
In Leitrim, there are currently 11,469 premises identified by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications as intervention areas where there is no existing or planned commercial high speed broadband network. This accounts for 51.4% of all premises in the county including homes, farms, commercial businesses, and schools. Under the National Broadband Plan, Leitrim will see an investment of €46M in a new high speed fibre broadband network which will service premises within these intervention areas.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is the company which was awarded the contract to roll out the broadband network. They are actively surveying locations throughout Leitrim and to date they have completed surveying Keshcarrigan, Drumcong, Drumshambo, Mohercregg, Aughnasheelin, Rooskey, Foxfield, Fenagh, Ballinamore, Gorvagh, Kilnagross, Kilclare, Effrinagh and Eslinbridge.
Surveying and designing are an important time-consuming part of mapping out how every premise will be connected, and this process provides the blueprint for how fibre broadband will be delivered throughout Leitrim. The rollout of the National Broadband Plan however is approximately six months behind schedule due to the disruptions caused by Covid-19.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs)
In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home roll out, the National Broadband Plan provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. Within Leitrim there are currently 11 BCP locations where a minimum of 150Mb highspeed broadband access is provided to the local community in that area. The deployment stage and location of each BCP is as follows:
Survey Stage (1 BCP)
• Killenummery Hall
Install Stage (2 BCPs - Scheduled to go live in 1st quarter 2022)
• Leitrim Gaels Community Facility
• New Ballagh Centre
Live (8 BCPs)
• Aughawillan Community Centre
• Aughavas Gaa Park
• Aughawillan Gaa Clubrooms
• Aghanlish Community Centre
• Askill Community Centre
• Gortletteragh Community Centre
• Killargue Community Centre
• Glencar Waterfall
School BCPs
In addition to BCPs, Primary schools within Intervention Areas are also being connected for educational access as part of the National Broadband Plan. In total there are 15 schools within Intervention Areas.
To date the following schools in Leitrim have been connected under the National Broadband Plan:
• Aughawillan National School
• Saint Michael's Primary School
The remaining 13 schools within intervention areas are still in planning for this year and Q1 next year.
Additionally, under the broadband for school’s programme, HEAnet delivers high speed broadband for all of Ireland’s schools on behalf of the Government.
HEAnet has confirmed that within Leitrim County “All 7 Post Primary schools are using the HEAnet awarded broadband, the minimum speed for these connections is 200Mb.
Also, all 37 Primary schools have been awarded a connection by the Department of Education as part of the Broadband for Schools Programme with varying speeds and technologies, ranging from 12Mb Wireless to 150Mb FTTH. Of the 37 schools, 4 schools are not using the awarded connection as they are awaiting a more suitable option to be tendered / awarded.”
A map providing all the school’s currently availing of the HEAnet high speed broadband can be found here: https://www.heanet.ie/schools#live-school-maps"
Councillor Sean McDermott welcomed the comprehensive and detailed reply.
Councillor Sean McDermott queried as to when is the deadline for this work to be completed. Councillor McDermott said broadband connectivity is now more important than ever as more and more people are working from home. He referred to areas of the county that cannot avail of reliable broadband and highlighted the case of the local school in his community.
Councillor Justin Warnock supported the comments made by Cllr McDermott.
Councillor Mary Bohan referred to Drumkeerin as an area not fully covered by Broadband and she highlighted how important Broadband is now for people going to school etc and asked that more clarity be provided regarding its rollout.
Councillors Frank Dolan, Des Guckian, Brendan Barry and Cathaoirleach, Councillor Paddy O’Rourke expressed their disappointment on the scheduled rollout of the service to 51.4% of the premises in the county.
Mr Joseph Gilhooly informed Members that the scheduled rollout in Leitrim is 70% from 2025 to 2026.