Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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574. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has been communicated to by Eir on whether it is endeavouring to have the universal service obligations softened particularly in respect to the true cost of phone line installation at a nominal cost. [3124/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department is in ongoing dialogue with operators on a variety of policy and regulatory issues. The provision of fixed line electronic communications networks connections and broadband services to users is undertaken on a commercial basis by electronic communications networks and services providers.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent market regulator which is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions, has imposed a universal service obligation on Eir, which, among other things, obliges it to provide landline connections at a standard connection charge across the country unless the costs incurred in any individual case exceeds a certain amount.

In light of the statutory independence of Comreg as the independent market regulator, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on this matter.