Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
787. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 462 of 20 February 2018, the reason an area (details supplied) appears to be the only area excluded from the commercial rollout of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12017/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in my response to Question No 462 of 20 February 2018, premises in the area referred to by the Deputy are in the AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, meaning commercial operators have no plans to provide them with a high speed broadband service. As such these premises will be served via National Broadband Plan State Intervention.
These premises were once in the BLUE area of the map, meaning an operator had indicated plans to serve them with a high speed broadband service. When these plans did not materialise the premises in the area were moved from BLUE to AMBER along with approximately 84,500 others. This was done as part of a wider update to the High Speed Broadband Map in April 2017.
Operational decisions of private telecommunications companies, including directing infrastructure to particular sites, routes etc, are a matter for these commercial operators. Neither I nor my Department have statutory powers to intervene in the day to day operations of a commercial company.
I recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland and fully appreciate the frustration felt by people, such as those in the area referred to, who do not currently have access to this level of connectivity. Delivering connectivity under the NBP remains a Government priority.
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 (AMBER on the Map). That procurement process is now in its final stages.
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.
