Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 5

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

137 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the situation now applicable to new applicants for land line telephone service; if they are entitled to these lines as of right on payment of the standard installation fee; if her attention has been drawn to delays in installation in rural areas; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the customer service guarantee whereby Eircom agree to install within ten working days has no great application in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14656/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

In accordance with S.I. No. 71 of 1999 (European Communities (Voice Telephony and Universal Service) Regulations, 1999), Eircom has been designated by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation to meet requests for connection to the fixed public telephone network at a fixed location, and for access to fixed public telephone services, and to supply such services at an affordable price.

Furthermore, this must be done in accordance with a written contract which sets out terms and conditions, or refers to those publicly available, relating to, amongst other things, the supply time for initial connection and the compensation or refund arrangements for subscribers which apply if the contracted service is not met.

Enforcement of this legislation is a matter for the Director of Telecommunications Regulation.