Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1193. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of broadband for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16460/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. eir has committed to completing this rollout by year end. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at . My Department's High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows that the premises referenced by the Deputy (depicted Light Blue on the Map) falls within eir's planned rural deployment.

As at the end of December 2017, a total of 121,000 premises of the 300,000 premises planned rural deployment were passed by eir including 9,797 premises in Co Kerry.  A further 15,790 premises in Co. Kerry are due to be passed by eir as part of its planned rural deployment.  Officials from my Department have queried the status of the referenced premises with eir, who have confirmed that the premises has been passed and that a connection request was received.  I understand, however, that eir has encountered an issue with a blocked duct on public land preventing the completion of the connection request. An application for a road opening licence has been made to Kerry County Council as of March 2018 and is pending approval. I further understand that eir has escalated the licence application.  Following resolution of this issue, the premises will be able to access high speed broadband.