Scepticism about last bidder for broadband roll-out
THERE is one pocket or enclave of 12 houses in Cork East where Eir came within 12 poles on either side before stopping the roll-out of high speed broadband, Labour Deputy Seán Sherlock told the Dáil. That, he said, is typical of parts of West Cork and Kilkenny.
“If one were to move around the chamber, members from every county would have an articulation of the very scenario I have just painted,” he said. “The question now is whether the last bidder, in effect the winner given the scenario we are in, can come in and plug that gap.
“There is some scepticism out there, including on my part, given that it is reasonable to wonder what price it will take for the last bidder standing to come in and close the loop in those black spots if eir could not do so within the current competitive architecture.”
Speaking during a debate on a Fianna Fáil motion on broadband, he asked if that bidder, in fact, will be able to name its price and hold the government to ransom as a result.
Cork East Fianna Fáil Deputy Kevin O’Keeffe said the warning signs were there last September when SIRO decided to exit the tendering process.
“Fianna Fáil then asked for the criteria of the tendering process to be published,” he said. “There was no transparency forthcoming. Over a week ago we heard a report that the government was trying to pull a fast one with the hope of carrying out the work on the cheap by slashing the price of access to Eir’s telephone poles. This had the potential to cause further delay.
“This is, in effect, like asking a mechanic to go into another man’s garage and carry out the work for a cheaper fee. It was ignorance on behalf of the government to think that this would not aggravate one of the potential bidders.”
Cork North West Fianna Fáil Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said in 2011 the government promised that 90% of homes would have high-speed broadband by 2015 and everybody would have it by 2020.
“By 2016, this had slipped to 85% of homes by this year,” he said. “The Taoiseach recently said that only 75% of homes were being targeted by the end of this year. It is slipping constantly and the attempt to deliver is slow.
“We see poor internet connections, torturing people in so many rural communities. It is constantly buffering and then suddenly collapses. That is how people see the national broadband programme in my constituency of Cork NorthWest.”
Oireachtas Report
legislation. Is there promised legislation to ensure a bond is put in place by these companies so that if they do not fulfil the contract to the letter of the law, there is redress for the people living by these roads?”
In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was not aware if there is specific promised legislation on that.
“I know from my time on a local authority that where road opening licences were granted to a company the company was expected to leave the road as it found it or in a better state,” he said. “When it does not do so, local authorities have recourse to the courts at that point.”