Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date in the development of a new national digital strategy with particular reference to national connectivity being delivered by the national broadband plan; if specific targets in respect of this strategy have been identified; the progress to date in achieving same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13229/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to developing a new National Digital Strategy which will utilise the increased level of national connectivity that is being delivered by the National Broadband Plan (NBP). Preliminary work, co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach, had been undertaken on a draft strategy in the lifetime of the previous Government and the experience of Covid-19 has only emphasised the importance of digital technologies to people’s daily lives.
Enhanced connectivity will be used to drive digital transformation in public services to deliver better outcomes for citizens. The NBP will provide the necessary supporting infrastructure to ensure a nationwide approach by ensuring all premises have high speed broadband access. In advance of the NBP fibre roll-out, Broadband Connection points are being established in remote rural locations to enhance connectivity.
It is anticipated that further work on digitalisation will be undertaken as the plans for economic recovery are developed and lessons are learnt from how Irish society has deployed and relied upon digital technology during the pandemic.
