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Broadband Infrastructure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Ceisteanna (59)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

59. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which he plans for all persons in Ireland to have access to high-speed broadband when commercial operators are reluctant or refuse outright to extend existing lines, even by a few metres, to other homes and businesses in need of high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13263/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)

What are the Minister's plans for all persons in Ireland to have access to high-speed broadband when commercial operators are reluctant or refuse outright to extend existing lines, even by a few metres, to other homes and businesses in need of it? Will he make a statement on the matter? I am referring to the gap areas.

I said earlier, in response to Deputy Pringle I believe, that the key is to have a variety of developers. The national broadband plan is key, particularly for those areas that the market cannot serve, but investment of the kind that Eir has made in the 300,000 additional houses in rural areas is critical. It probably now needs to start focusing on some urban areas also because some of these areas may not be accommodated by the cable network operator or other high-speed Internet providers. We need to move towards a system whereby every house in the country has access to really high-speed broadband so we can also develop social services on the back of that. I cite the co-operative arrangement between Vodafone and the ESB in the roll-out of SIRO, which has been an exceedingly successful innovation in using electricity wires as a conduit to get broadband into people's homes. The ongoing delivery is critical. Where a service can be delivered effectively in a small number of specific locations where some houses have a service while their deeply frustrated neighbours do not because they are not covered in the plan - for example, where Eir provides a new extension in a rural area - we would encourage it and seek for the regulatory authority to facilitate this in whatever way it can. Through a series of interventions by a variety of companies, including cable, mobile broadband and fixed-line companies such as Eir and SIRO, and through the national broadband plan, we are on a path to having universal coverage, ahead of most of our comparator countries. That will be of great benefit to the country.

The Minister touched on the issue. Any public representative can give an example. Stamullen, a growing urban centre, became very built up over the Celtic tiger period. When we made requests repeatedly, be it to Eir or National Broadband Ireland, we encountered the scenario in which areas were incorrectly categorised, thus requiring recategorisation. Regarding other areas within the group, we were told it would take a number of years before Eir, for example, would be back with the network bringing fibre to the home. The Minister touched on the fact that a large number of people are caught in the gap in that they are not covered by the national broadband plan and not in the intervention area. It does not make financial sense for Eir to go the extra 100 yd up a road because there are thousands of such cases. When one adds them up, one realises it does not make financial sense. Eir has no interest in addressing this and it has been very clear about it. Rather than hoping for a solution, I am asking the Minister to state there is a clear plan to provide a solution for all those affected. I am not blaming him for the problem but just saying we need a solution. It is a problem.

On the broad strategic approach, I make reference to the network operators. The infrastructure is strange because one wants the process to be both collaborative and competitive.

One wants that competitive tension so companies are forced to make investments for fear that their competitors will take the market from them. At the same time, one wants it to be collaborative with a shared infrastructure. The national broadband plan was designed with such an approach. It uses National Broadband Ireland. It is open access and all other retailers will use it. It works in collaboration with Eir in making ready and using its poles. It will also be collaborating with the ESB and will use some of its network. The solution to the problems the Deputy rightly identifies in Stamullen and elsewhere will be further collaboration and co-operation to make sure that it is universal and that we go the extra hundred yards so we do not leave houses behind. It will take some time. The national broadband plan will, as everyone knows, take a number of years but that collaborative approach will get us that 100% coverage.

I thank the Minister and Deputies for their co-operation. That concludes questions to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.
The Dáil adjourned at 8.31 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Thursday, 11 March 2021.
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