Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 April 2021
14. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Hands Lane, Rush, County Dublin will be provided with fibre broadband given that a number of commitments have been made to provide the area with fibre broadband going back as far as 2016. [21064/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe area referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
Notwithstanding this, my Department has considered the matter raised and our investigations show that the area referred to in the Question should be able to access high speed broadband from their service provider. Initial checks suggest that premises in the area should be able to obtain speeds of up to 90Mbps.
Complaints about service provision are a matter for discussion between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted, without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.
In the event that, having exhausted the above options, a premises located in the BLUE area remains unable to obtain high speed broadband from service providers in the area, they should contact my Department at broadband@decc.gov.ie with full details and the matter will be investigated further by my officials.
