Written answer
Broadband Infrastructure
Banada’s operational BCP can support temporary connectivity, but no request was received; the Men’s Shed now has NBI fibre and provider options.
267. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the commitment previously given regarding the provision of broadband connectivity from the Broadband Connection Point at a location (details supplied) to the local Men’s Shed. [74525/26]
Comment on this
The Broadband Connection Point (BCP) at Banada Community Hall, Co. Sligo is operational and continues to provide free high-speed broadband access for community use.
My Department co-funds the Broadband Officer (BBO) in each local authority and they have the responsibility for connectivity solutions at BCP sites along with facilitating broadband connections for other premises. The Sligo BBO is the point of contact for the men's shed in assisting them to obtain a broadband connection.
This BCP was upgraded with new networking equipment in April 2026. The new network configuration allows for temporary connectivity solutions to be enabled, such as an extension of broadband to the men’s shed where no permanent connectivity solution was available. However the Department has been advised that no such request was received by the Sligo BB. As the local Men's Shed has now been passed by NBI fibre, there are a number of connectivity options available through existing broadband providers. Information on specific providers is available through the NBI coverage checker: nbi.ie/map/