Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the latest milestone in the National Broadband Plan, with more than 500,000 homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland now able to order high-speed fibre broadband.

89% of the approximately 566,000 premises currently included in the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area have now been passed. The Intervention Area has grown by approximately 29,000 premises since the contract for the National Broadband Plan was signed, when 537,000 premises were identified for inclusion. The main infrastructure rollout remains on track for completion by the end of 2026.

Minister Canney, who played a key role in the development of the National Broadband Plan as Minister of State for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development and Chair of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, said the progress marks another significant step towards ensuring every community has access to reliable, high-speed connectivity.

Minister Canney said: “Reaching 500,000 premises is a major milestone for the National Broadband Plan and another important step in transforming connectivity for rural Ireland.

“High-speed broadband is now an essential service. It allows people to work from home, helps businesses grow, supports farming, education and healthcare, and ensures that people living in rural communities have the same opportunities as those in our towns and cities.

“With the rollout on track for completion by the end of this year, and more than 183,000 premises already connected, we are now firmly in the final phase of one of the most significant infrastructure projects ever undertaken in rural Ireland.”

The National Broadband Plan will make high-speed fibre broadband available to approximately 1.1 million people living and working in rural Ireland. More than 183,000 premises are already connected to the network, with take-up continuing to grow in areas where the service has been available for longer.

Residents and businesses can check their Eircode on the National Broadband Ireland website www.nbi.ie to see if they are ready to connect and to view the list of broadband providers offering services in their area.