Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to resolve a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37957/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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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 is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.

The premises of the Deputy’s constituent is in an AMBER area according to my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie.

It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the NBP.

My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages, with my Department now evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. 

With regards to the ongoing rollout of infrastructure in the area, decisions made by private telecommunication operators relating to the rollout and siting of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services throughout Ireland are undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers operating in a liberalised market. I have no statutory role or function to intervene in the commercial decisions of private operators, and therefore cannot direct operators regarding infrastructure installation or delivery of services.

I note the Deputy’s constituent’s concerns relating to the reliability of service they have been experiencing from their provider.

Issues relating to the provision of telecommunications services, including loss of service are, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant service provider to resolve. 

If, after having exhausted the service provider's complaint handling procedures, a customer is not happy, they may contact the independent regulator, Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, on 1890 229 668; online at www.askcomreg.ie or by email at Consumerline@comreg.ie, for further assistance and guidance.  ComReg will investigate such complaints to ensure that the companies in question are delivering services in line with its licence obligations.