Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
176. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on connectivity blackspots in terms of Ireland’s broadband network; the breakdown of postcodes that are not included in the national roll-out nor commercially available; his plans to address these blackspots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19395/24]
View answerMy Department is aware through engagement with various stakeholders, including commercial operators and ComReg, of the possibility that it may not be viable for commercial operators to reach all premises in urban areas to deliver on EU and National Targets. These are areas currently not within the scope of the National Broadband Plan.
An extensive mapping exercise will be required taking account of commercial deployments which are currently being rolled out, to identify the scale of this potential problem including identifying individual Eircode's impacted. My Department are currently engaged with ComReg on this exercise.
If it emerges that the market cannot deliver on EU and National Connectivity Targets, the Department will consider appropriate public policy tools required to ensure those targets are achieved.
