Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The obligation of the contractor is to deliver 146,000 km of fibre. It can use ESB poles, Eir poles, or ducts. It is not obliged to use any one option. Prices for both are regulated. ComReg will decide the price at which a service will be made available. Using ESB poles creates additional health and safety issues different from those associated with using Eir poles. There may be requirements which make them more difficult to use, but that does not mean they cannot be used. They will be used where it is effective to do so. There are differences in these areas.