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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 4

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

315 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the legal obligations there are to provide universal access to fixed line phone services; if all households are entitled to fixed line connections; if the obligations and entitlements have changed since the privatisation of Eircom; and the person who adjudicates when conflicts arise between the service providers and local authorities such as a case in Kilcroney, Ardee, County Louth, where the county council has refused permission to Eircom poles, thus massively increasing the cost of fixed line access to local households. [4333/03]

The legal obligations to provide universal access to fixed line telephone services are set out in regulation 9 of the European Communities (Voice Telephony and Universal Service) Regulations 1999 (SI No. 71 of 1999). In accordance with this provision, an operator designated to meet universal service obligations must meet all reasonable requests for connection to the fixed public telephone network.

The Commission for Communications Regulation, in accordance these regulations, is responsible for the designation of the universal service provider and ensuring the universal service provider complies with its obligations, including determination of the reasonableness of requests. Eircom has been designated by the commission as the universal service provider in the State.

The legislative framework on universal service provision in the telecommunication market has been in place since before the privatisation of Telecom Éireann and is not affected by it.

As regards the particular case referred to by the Deputy, I have no function in the matter. If the universal service provider is inhibited from meeting its obligations by planning considerations, it would be a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation to determine whether any refusal to supply was reasonable.

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