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Broadband Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019

Wednesday, 27 March 2019

Ceisteanna (53)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

53. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied that the commitment agreement progress update by a company (details supplied) is accurate. [14226/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In November 2014 my Department published a High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that within the State intervention area.

In April 2017 the High Speed Broadband Map was updated. This update took account of the Commitment Agreement signed by eir with the Department to deploy high speed broadband to approximately 300,000 premises in rural Ireland on a commercial basis. These areas are categorised as LIGHT BLUE in the Map.

According to data for Q4 2018 submitted by eir to my Department the company has passed almost 225,000 of the committed 300,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment.

eir provide my Department with a list of the premises, identified by Eircode, that have been confirmed as being passed in the 300k quarterly milestone report. My Department reviews the aggregate number of committed premises through analysis of eir’s progress report against the milestone targets outlined in the Commitment Agreement. The results are published on the updated High Speed Broadband map each quarter.

In addition, eir updates its database of all premises that are confirmed as being available for a high speed broadband service on a weekly basis. Premises passed as part of the 300k deployment are also included in these updates. In line with its regulatory obligations, this information is shared by eir with industry, along with my Department.

The company has indicated it intends to complete its deployment by the middle of this year. Officials from my Department are engaged with eir regarding this, and other matters related to the deployment on an ongoing basis.

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