Thurles Information

Three-Month Delay in Thurles: Homeowners Left Without Written Notice or Clear Responsibility for Fibre/Telecoms Cabling Repairs

Have you looked up to check the overhead electric and fibre connection to your home recently?

Residents of some Thurles houses have raised serious concern about fibre/telecoms infrastructure attached to their property, which will remain unresolved for at least the next three months.

This is not a minor cosmetic issue. The current cabling/connection point is interfering with ordinary property maintenance, including gutter cleaning and house painting. It also raises legitimate questions about safety, responsibility, and whether the correct qualified personnel are being sent to deal with the matter.

While fibre itself does not normally conduct electricity, because the glass/plastic optical fibre carries light, not current. However, some telecoms cables or fixings can include metallic elements, and any cable routed close to damaged electrical wiring can become hazardous through contact, arcing (when electricity jumps from one circuit to another), induced faults, water ingress, or poor separation. The HSE lists electric shock, burns, arcing, and fire from faulty installations as key electrical hazards.

Examine the picture shown hereunder!

A further concern is that Virgin Media Ireland, who own and lease these connections, never contacted affected homeowners about this issue by post, telephone, email, or by any other communication. Homeowners were not properly informed about who was responsible, what work was required, whether there were safety implications, or when repairs would be completed. That lack of communication is unacceptable where infrastructure on or near private homes is affecting potentially safety, access, and maintenance.

Virgin Media Ireland has entered into wholesale arrangements allowing it to provide services over SIRO-enabled premises. SIRO itself is the ESB/Vodafone joint venture which uses existing ESB Networks infrastructure, including poles, ducts, overhead and underground routes, to deliver fibre broadband. Contractors such as TLI Group are also involved in designing and building fibre networks, including overhead, underground and façade installations.

Given that structure, it is not acceptable for a customer or homeowner to be left waiting months while Virgin Media, SIRO, ESB Networks, or contractors decide who is responsible. If the connection was installed as part of a wider fibre rollout, then there should be a clear line of accountability for repairs, relocation, safety checks, homeowner notification, and making good any obstruction to normal property maintenance.

Residents concerns are not simply whether broadband is working. The issue is that telecoms infrastructure appears to have been left in a condition that affects access to gutters and external painting, and may be close to electrical infrastructure. If specialist personnel are required, then the matter should be escalated to the correct party immediately rather than repeatedly delayed or left unexplained.

Thurles residents are asking for written confirmation of the following:

• Who owns the cable, connection point, and any associated equipment on or near their property?
• Who is responsible for repairing or relocating it?
• Whether Virgin Media, SIRO, ESB Networks, TLI Group, or another contractor must attend.
• Whether the installation has been checked for safe separation from electrical wiring.
• Why affected homeowners were not contacted by mail, phone, email, or other written communication.
• A confirmed date for permanent repair, not a temporary wrap or further delay.

A three-month delay is unreasonable where the issue affects gutter cleaning, painting, and the safe maintenance of a home. The absence of direct communication with homeowners makes the matter worse. If there is a shortage of suitable personnel, or if multiple companies are involved, that should be stated clearly in writing. The homeowner should not be left carrying the inconvenience, risk, or cost of unresolved infrastructure works.

Residents therefore are requesting urgent escalation, a named responsible party, a written explanation for the lack of communication, and a confirmed repair date. If this cannot be resolved promptly, residents should consider referring the matter to ComReg, the Commission for Communications Regulation, seeking reimbursement for any additional costs caused by the continued delay.