Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
117. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he will take to ensure the provision of high-speed broadband connection in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35133/20]
View answerThe areas referred to are located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas were not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators were either providing high speed broadband or had indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.On receipt of a number of queries, my officials investigated the position regarding provision of high speed broadband on Adelaide Street. These investigations found that eir are the only operator providing high speed broadband at this location. My officials are currently in communication with eir and are awaiting an update from them on the provision of high speed broadband at this location. I have asked my officials to contact the Deputy with an update as soon as the position has been established. With regard to Knapton/York Road and Elton Park, I am advised that this location will fall under the eir upgrade for the Dun Laoghaire area which is currently forecast to begin in April 2021. This upgrade is part of eir's fixed network investment which was launched in February 2019 and covers up to 1.4 million premises in predominantly urban and suburban areas where the legacy copper network will be replaced with fibre.
