Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I will be brief. It relates to the blue commercial zone providing broadband in those areas and where Eir seem to be very slow in rolling out fibre to those householders. What realistic expectations should householders have and how quickly should they expect to get fibre broadband, once houses are built? For example, 16 months on from moving into houses in Heathfield, Ballincollig, residents are still waiting for fibre to be laid. Construction has moved on to phase 3 and ducts are in place. While Eircode postcodes have been available since last February, there is no date set or a timeline rolled out. What kind of expectations should householders have? Does ComReg set targets with Eir, does it meet them and is ComReg able to pursue them on it to ensure that they provide fibre broadband in those blue areas in a timely manner?

I note that when people raise queries, ComReg will say there are alternatives available but the alternative realistically is a 3 Mbps contentious line providing only 1 Mbps. It is not realistic to expect householders to enter into a contract for a year or more where there will not be alternatives available to them. As commercial operators are not interested in coming into those areas, they are not realistic alternatives.