Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
1036. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when improved broadband services will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35688/18]
View answer1044. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a person (details supplied) will be connected to broadband in an area in north County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36112/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1036 and 1044 together.
The eircodes referenced to by the Deputy fall within an AMBER area on my Department's High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. They are therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband PlanBP.
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is its closing stages.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/Pages/NBP-Information-Leaflets.aspx
