Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2020
34. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will implement to ensure a necessary upgrade in the telecommunications infrastructure in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16059/20]
View answer35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will implement to ensure that all areas of counties Cavan and Monaghan will have access to high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16060/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
Providing telecommunication services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services and make specific investments in particular locations.
Since 2016, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide. It has completed over 70 targeted actions to alleviate connectivity barriers, and continues to tackle issues impeding the rollout of essential infrastructure in rural areas, including in counties Cavan and Monaghan. The Taskforce will continue its work in the context of its inclusion in the Programme for Government, in ensuring access to high quality telecommunications connectivity across Ireland to support social and economic development.
In addition, the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas in Counties Cavan and Monaghan which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode.
- Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). 16,200 premises in Cavan and 15,125 premises in Monaghan fall into this category.
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. 25,087 premises in Cavan and 17,983 premises in Monaghan fall into this category
- The LIGHT BLUE area represents eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises, including Cavan and Monaghan as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017. 177 premises in Cavan and 76 premises in Monaghan fall into this category.
The NBP network will offer those premises within the AMBER area, a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
