Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high-speed broadband will be available to a person (details supplied) given that their house appears to be the only one not included in service available to other houses in the locality; the efforts that will be taken to rectify this issue in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57900/22]

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.  Under State aid rules, my Department is not permitted to displace commercial investment by intervening in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned, as to do so would be an infringement of these State aid rules. 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.

I understand that officials from my Department have been in contact with you previously regarding this matter and that your constituent's contact details, with his agreement, were passed to Openeir who are responsible for resolving this issue.