Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 1

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

31 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by island communities off the west and south coast about whether adequate services will be provided to the islands by telecommunications service providers following the privatisation of Telecom Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12838/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, Telecom Éireann has had an obligation to satisfy all reasonable demands for comprehensive and efficient telecommunications services throughout the State.

In light of the full liberalisation of the telecommunications sector with effect from last December, I recently made new regulations to replace this requirement with more up-to-date and specific provisions in relation to what is known as a universal service obligation. The European Communities (Voice Telephony and Universal Service) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 71 of 1999) require the director of telecommunications regulation to designate one or more fixed telecommunications operators to meet all reasonable requests for access to the fixed public telephone network and the provision of a specified minimum set of telecommunications services, involving the ability to make and receive national and international calls, enabling speech, facsimile and data communications, as well as ensuing access to directory services and the provision of public pay telephones. The director has recently designated Telecom Éireann to comply with this universal service obligation.

This obligation applies irrespective of the forthcoming public offering of shares in Telecom Éireann.