Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is appreciated. Only 35% of Irish premises have broadband speeds of 10 Mbps or higher. More significantly, only 69% of Irish homes have broadband faster than a modest 4 Mbps. Ireland ranks No. 42 in the world in the distribution of fast broadband services. Commercial companies advertise broadband speeds of 240 Mbps in cities and towns, while those in rural areas subsist on speeds of 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps. The digital divide has become a chasm. Some areas of west Cork have never had a broadband service. In areas such as Ballylicken and Skibbereen, subsequent to the merger of 3 and O2, many who had a broadband service have been left without one. To have a bad broadband service is one thing, but to be left without a service is absolutely unacceptable in this day and age. For some, having been a customer of 3 for five years, their Internet service was taken and they were told they would no longer have a service within the scope required to pick up 3G broadband. These are very important issues which have huge consequences for affected businesses and individuals who are unable to work from home. People have been left isolated. The lack of a Internet service makes life extremely difficult. I call on the Minister to ensure a comprehensive investigation by ComReg to examine the reasons behind this and to ensure those who have lost their broadband service will have it reinstated as soon as possible.

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