Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018
195. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the options available to a person (details supplied) who has been refused broadband access by Eir; the implications of this on his Department's broadband rollout plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23917/18]
View answerAccording to my Department’s National Broadband Plan High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, the premises detailed by the Deputy’s has been passed by eir as part of that company’s ongoing commercial deployment of high speed broadband to 300K rural premises. A high speed broadband connection is therefore available and I understand a connection has been offered to the Deputy’s constituent by eir. I further understand that the method proposed by eir to deliver this high speed broadband connection to the premises was not accepted and as a consequence connection to the premises did not proceed. This has been confirmed following contact between an official from my Department and the Deputy’s constituent.
Decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the rollout and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.
The Deputy’s constituent may be able to secure an alternative broadband connection via a fixed wireless, mobile broadband or satellite service.
