Written answers

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Broadband Service Provision

Photo of Bobby AylwardBobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

473. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the provision of fibre optic broadband services with speeds of at least 20 Mbps in an area (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26802/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.

There are circa 297 premises in the townland of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. These premises fall within a BLUE area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map available at www.broadbad.gov.ie and are within the area targeted for delivery of high speed broadband by commercial operators. Therefore a high speed broadband service (minimum download speed 30 Mbps) for this area will be realised through commercial operators.

It is important to note that telecommunications companies operate in a liberalised market and while I have no statutory authority to intervene in their day to day operations, my Department is collating information in relation to cases/areas where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises do not materialise. In this regard, where a premises situated in a BLUE area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service I would encourage citizens to contact my Department directly at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with details - quoting their address, eircode and fixed line telephone number (if available) and details of operators they have contacted with a view to obtaining a broadband service. This information will assist my Department in identifying the areas of concern and will facilitate engagement with telecommunication operators on this issue.

In addition, for those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.

Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website at .

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.