Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will take steps in order that two properties (details supplied) in Clonegal, County Carlow that are in the process of being renovated will be included and connected to the NBI. [42192/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The premises 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 to be dealt with 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 investigated the matter and I understand that both premises are connected to the nearby FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) and therefore these premises should be able to access high speed broadband from a commercial operator.