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National Broadband Plan

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Questions (221)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

221. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that a road (details supplied) has been excluded from the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan, particularly in view of the fact that a number of hospitality businesses are located there and broadband speeds from the private provider are too slow to cater to their needs; when this road will be included in the NBI intervention area; the analysis which has been carried out into the possibility of including this road in the intervention area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46314/21]

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Written answers

The road 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.

Notwithstanding this, my Department has undertaken an initial investigation into the matter and I understand that the road referred to is connected to the local exchange in Cong and therefore premises on this road should be able to access high speed broadband from a commercial operator.

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