Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
1146. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to alter the national broadband map to take account of the announcement by Eircom to extend fibre broadband into more rural areas of counties, particularly in the West; and if his Department is in communication with Eircom in order that areas nearby but not included in that company's plans are not omitted from the national broadband plan. [22364/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER area shows the target areas for the State intervention; all premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State's intervention. Last week eircom announced an investment that may address a further 300,000 premises with fibre-to-the-premises technology. My Department will be rigorously examining the assurances from eircom in relation to these new plans, which is a requirement for all operators, and will review how this impacts the proposed intervention area.
