Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before the witnesses come in, I will ask for clarification on two of the questions that have been asked. One of these was asked by Senator Murphy and another by both Senator Murphy and Deputy Kerrane. On Senator Murphy's own personal situation, he is caught in the Eir rural viable deployment area. There is fibre broadband on either side of him but he is caught in no man's land in the middle. The witnesses might address that question and the related question. I understand there has been engagement between National Broadband Ireland and Eir about dealing with some of those isolated homes in urban areas that are not getting a minimum of 20 Mbps and circumstances like Senator Murphy's. Will the witnesses clarify whether Senator Murphy's home and similar homes are part of that discussion?

The related issue has regard to Ahascragh. I raised this issue here on 16 December when the witnesses were last before the committee. I specifically spoke about the Ballinasloe deployment and the homes that were designated as dark blue but which were not getting a minimum speed of 30 Mbps. There are people in Ahascragh whose homes are designated as dark blue but who are not getting 30 Mbps. They are the ones we are talking about here. In response to me last December when I raised this specific issue, Mr. Neary told us that a team of people were monitoring the maps and making sure those houses we believe are getting speeds of 30 Mbps at home are actually getting them.

Clearly, the community in Ahascragh feels abandoned because that mapping work did not happen. I flagged in the committee last December that this was going to cause a significant problem, and I am sure it is being replicated elsewhere. What is happening in regard to communities such as Ahascragh and elsewhere, where people are not getting the minimum of 30 Mbps and feel they are now being bypassed? Perhaps Dr. O'Connor will speak on this issue in respect of the broadband officers, because I know the broadband officers have relayed specific concerns at forums in Carrick-on-Shannon and across the country that this was going to cause a problem. We are now seeing that working out in Ahascragh and hundreds of such places across the country. I just wish to clarify both issues.