Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
526. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the withdrawal of broadband services from north-east County Roscommon which was funded by a private operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6952/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe upgrade, installation or routing of infrastructure is a matter for the relevant commercial operator. My Department cannot intervene in the day to day operations of a commercial company and has no ability to compel a commercial operator to deliver services. The Deputy will appreciate therefore that I do not have a basis to intercede in the matters raised.
The areas of North-east Roscommon referred to by the Deputy, which were clarified following a query from an official in my Department, are coded as AMBER on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie and searchable by eircode/address. They therefore fall to be covered as part of the State Intervention under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. When the procurement process reaches a satisfactory conclusion for Government, a contract will be awarded and the network rollout will commence. Delivering high speed broadband to citizens across Ireland remains a firm commitment of mine and this Government.
In the interim, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
