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Broadband Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2018

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Questions (267)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

267. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high speed broadband will be available at a location (details supplied); the reason the latest installation did not go as far as this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51029/18]

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Written answers

As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 2074 and 2082 of 24 July 2018, this premises is in an AMBER area according to the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. High speed broadband will therefore be delivered through the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP, which is the subject of an ongoing procurement process.

I note that there is deployment of infrastructure by eir as part of that company’s rural fibre rollout in the area referred to by the Deputy.

eir’s rural investment in high speed broadband is an entirely commercial undertaking, and not part of the planned State Intervention network. Although the deployment is monitored under the terms of a Commitment Agreement signed between the company and my Department, it is not funded by the State and it is not planned, designed or directed by my Department in any capacity. 

The selection of what premises are to be served under eir’s deployment is an internal and commercial decision for that company. My Department has no statutory authority or function to intervene in the company’s commercial decisions, nor in any decisions relating to the roll out and siting of infrastructure throughout Ireland by service providers operating in a liberalised market.

The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage.  My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible.  My Department will now conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks on how to proceed.

For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.

Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen.  These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities.  The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.

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