Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

352. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the safeguards that are in place to ensure that installers of private optical fibre infrastructure will remove legacy copper wire installations, cabling and hardware once the roll-out has occurred; the role ComReg will play in ensuring this work is completed and who is responsible for ensuring that all traces of legacy equipment are addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40369/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government’s Digital Connectivity Strategy (DCS) aims to have all Irish households and businesses covered by a gigabit network by 2028. A fibre network is faster, consumes less energy and is more reliable than a copper network.

The main copper network is owned by Eir (a private entity) and as such the ongoing operation and maintenance of it is a matter for them. Should Eir choose to proceed with Copper Switch Off, it is required to submit a formal switch-off proposal to ComReg which will then be subject to ComReg approval and a clearly defined process.

This process which seeks to safeguard consumers during the transition from copper is laid out in the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) Decision D09/23, ‘Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure’.

In addition to D09/23, ComReg also published “Guidance for Retail Service Providers on Customer Migration from Copper-Based Electronic Communication Services – Management of Migration and Future Copper Switch-Off’ (ComReg Ref 24/76). This document provides guidance to Retail Service Providers (RSPs) on how to manage the Copper Switch Off migration process with a particular focus on steps that should be followed in relation to catering to vulnerable customers.

ComReg has a dedicated email address to directly address queries from members of the Oireachtas at