Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode.-  Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.

I am advised that while a small number of premises in the village of Ahascragh are in the AMBER area, the majority of premises are designated as part of the BLUE area.  BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the NBP 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.

In terms of those premises in the townland of Lowville, Ahascragh that are designated as AMBER, I am advised by NBI that deployment to this area has already occurred and that these premises should now be able to place an order for high speed broadband from retail service providers who will deliver services to end users through the NBI network.

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 from our records we have established that the premises should be able to obtain broadband speeds of 40Mbps through a commercial operator operating in the area.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I understand that almost 3,500 orders have been placed with NBI as of 8 October, with some 2,246 connections made. These include premises in Co. Galway. I am further advised that connections are due to commence in Co Roscommon next month.