Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 4: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when commitments six and seven in his next generation policy paper, that is, regulations to mandate the installation of ducting in all major public infrastructure projects and to require the installation of open access fibre connections to new premises where practicable will be implemented; the way these regulations will work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28810/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One of the main themes of the draft consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband is to facilitate private sector investment in Next Generation Broadband networks. As the paper shows, major investment is already under way by the private sector, amounting to around €700m per annum, facilitated by a pro–competition, pro-investment regulatory regime.

This favourable regulatory regime will continue to be promoted. In addition the paper sets out actions that have the potential to lower the costs for telecoms operators of building NGB networks. A key measure in this regard is to utilise state infrastructure assets to facilitate broadband connectivity. Accordingly, the actions in the paper to support infrastructure deployment include:

Major public infrastructure projects will, in future, install ducting at construction stage to facilitate network roll-out and

A one stop shop will be established to make it easier for service providers to access current and future ducting.

In addition, new premises will be required to install open-access fibre connections, where practicable, with regulations in place by the end of this year.

I have already engaged with key Departments and agencies in regard to the implementation of these actions including the Department of Transport and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I will be intensifying this engagement in the period ahead to ensure the early implementation of the actions proposed. I consider that these measures have a key role to play in the regional rollout of Next Generation Broadband.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 5: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Houses of the Oireachtas offices as well as ordinary customers in north Tipperary have had no broadband connection at all for the past two weeks and that their broadband connection had been intermittent at best for months prior to that; his plans to give greater powers to Comreg to force private broadband operators to provide adequate service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28811/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have no function in the direct provision of broadband services to customers. This is a contractual matter between the service provider and their customer.

The provision of electronic communications services including broadband, is primarily a matter for private sector operators. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of telecommunications operators including regulatory issues surrounding the quality of services, rests with the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which acts independently in the exercise of its functions.

In cases where people have complaints against their service providers, it would be normal that they would take the matter up with their service provider in the first instance.

ComReg will normally only deal with a complaint from individuals once they have exhausted the complaints procedure with their service providers. In this event ComReg could examine whether the service provider acted appropriately in accordance with regulatory requirements.

ComReg have stated that they have not received any significant number of complaints from the North Tipperary area over the last six months.

In relation to ComReg's enforcement powers, the Deputy may be aware that these were substantially enhanced by the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007 including:

The creation of new summary, indictable and continuing offences for breaches by operators of obligations imposed by ComReg;

Conferring on ComReg, competition law powers, to allow it to investigate and prosecute anti-competitive behaviour or abuse of dominance in the electronic communications sector; and

Providing ComReg with increased information gathering powers and power to investigate overcharging.

I have no plans at this juncture to further amend ComReg's enforcement powers.