Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
84. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get broadband at their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40530/21]
View answerThe premises referred to in the Question is 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 are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have 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. Complaints about service provision are a matter to be dealt with between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.
I appreciate people's frustration when they cannot get minimum broadband speeds, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. My Department has investigated the matter raised and has established that a service provider operating in the area has plans to roll out high speed broadband to Ballyjamesduff and that the premises referred to in the Question is due to be served by this rollout. As this is a commercial operator my Department does not have visibility on the dates for the roll out.
