83. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the National Broadband plan rollout will be complete in Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41391/24]

Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030.

These targets will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and through the State investment in National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

The Digital Connectivity Strategy will lead to more balanced regional development, supporting the green transition, facilitating greater access to regional talent and skills and will assist with the implementation of the Government’s Remote Working Strategy, Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, and Project Ireland 2040.

Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over 21,380 homes and businesses in Cavan with gigabit services, with plans to pass a further c.4,919 homes and businesses over the next 2 – 3 years. Other commercial operators are also continuing to increase their network footprint right across Cavan, with SIRO recently passing over 4,400 premises for full fibre.

Along with the progress made by commercial operators’ in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State, the National Broadband Plan intervention contract provides for the roll out of a high speed and future-proofed broadband network to primarily rural areas. The intervention area covers over 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools.

I am advised by NBI that, over 300,180 premises are passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. Over 99,583 premises are already connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network.

In the Deputy’s own county of Cavan, over 9,725 premises are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and 9,744 available to order/pre-order, with 3,119 premises now connected. A further 7,725 premises within Cavan will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of the contract.

Further details are available on specific areas within County Cavan can be monitored via https://nbi.ie/reps. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie , which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.