Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a property (details supplied) will be included in the intervention area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23188/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The area referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.

Complaints about service provision are a matter for discussion between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted, without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.

Notwithstanding this, my Department has considered the matter raised and our investigations show that the premises referred to in the Question should be able to access high speed broadband from their service provider. My Department has raised a query regarding the premises in question with the network operator to obtain the current status for the premises. As soon as a reply is received my Department will revert to the Deputy with an update.