Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. I am one of the people who looks down the road at what my neighbours have because I cannot get a broadband service. I presume the premises the Deputy is referring to are in proximity to Eir’s deployment of high-speed broadband but are not of part of Eir's commercial roll-out to 300,000 predominantly rural premises in the commitment agreement signed with the Department in April. I understand the frustration of householders who cannot avail of a high-speed broadband service at present, while their close neighbours may have access to such a service.

Eir's investment in its high-speed broadband rural network is to be welcomed. It is a commercial investment, based on a commercial decision by the company and is not part of the State intervention under the national broadband plan. Although the deployment is monitored by my Department under the terms of the commitment agreement, it is not funded by the State and is not designed or directed by my Department in any capacity. The Department has no statutory role or function in such commercial decisions and cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services. I am acutely aware of the frustration for householders and businesses that do not have access to a high-speed broadband service and I assure the Deputy the Department is giving the highest priority to the finalisation of the national broadband plan contract. There are premises, such as those to which the Deputy refers, which may be close to but not part of the Eir roll-out. These will all be picked up by the national broadband plan.

A consultation on the high-speed broadband map has recently been concluded. This afforded any commercial company the opportunity to commit to deliver high-speed broadband services to premises within the intervention area to the standard set out in the national broadband plan process. Since the Government decision in May to appoint National Broadband Ireland as the preferred bidder for the national broadband plan contract, work has continued on the due diligence necessary to conclude the contract. This process is progressing towards contract award, which is expected before the end of this year. Deployment of this vital network will commence shortly after that.

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