Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of communications and broadband, which is essential for all people now, particularly as they go about their daily lives, whether it is through business or grant forms and even for quality of life. Eir reports data to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on ongoing rural fibre deployment in accordance with the commitment agreement signed with the Department in April 2017. It is not funded by the State and not planned, designed or directed by the Department in any capacity, according to quarter 3 2018 figures provided by Eir to the Department. The company has passed over 200,000 premises as part of its ongoing deployment and I had a lady in my clinic the other day who said it is called low hanging fruit if no easy access can be found.

My concern is not with the deployment of this, however. Some 180 towns and cities will benefit from the massive fixed network investment programme announced by Eir. This is good news for the many and in my area it is great to get this kind of connection. My concern is with Eir and its communication with its customers. Eir was taken over by an investment consortium in April 2018. If we are trusting it with deploying rural broadband to the country, we need to look at how it is treating its existing customers. Eir customers are currently facing longer than normal and much longer than acceptable wait times when contacting the customer care call centre. They are often told to go online to web chat, only to then be told to go back on the phone. Many more have complained that Eir's service is not working and they cannot get out of a contract. Others complain that reported faults are never fixed, despite promises that technicians will come out. Hundreds of customers have complained to national newspapers and to social media. Are we to expect this kind of customer service when the massive fixed network investment programme is completed? The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment needs to come into this Chamber to reassure us that customers will be treated better in future. We cannot allow this to happen. This is very serious for rural Ireland. We need to make sure that rural Ireland gets this service. I welcome this as well but we need to make sure it is done properly.

I second Senator Leyden's amendment.