Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
2062. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the initial meeting of the newly established Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce; if she will provide the contact details for the Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2149/22]
View answer2063. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expected date for the finalised work programme of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce; the full membership of the Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2150/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2062 and 2063 together.
In late 2021, I and my colleague Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD reconvened the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. As in its previous incarnation, the Taskforce is co-managed by officials of my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Membership is drawn from central and local government departments and agencies and includes the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; the Local Government Management Agency; the OPW; the ASAI; the City and County Management Association and of course the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The work of the Taskforce is supported by ComReg, acting as an independent advisor to the Taskforce. The Taskforce also has ongoing engagement with the telecommunications industry, not least through the involvement of Ibec. Inputs will be sought by the Taskforce from other bodies as appropriate.
The Taskforce met on 15 December 2021. The meeting was attended by ComReg in its independent advisory role. The meeting, which was co-chaired by myself and Minister of State Ossian Smyth, served as an orientation discussion, providing each of the State stakeholders with an opportunity to propose actions under a number of priority areas to form the focus of the new work programme, including permit granting, planning and licencing issues; efficient use of infrastructure and assets; improving outdoor mobile phone coverage; and consumer protection measures.?
Following on from the meeting, both my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications look forward to working closely together and engaging bilaterally with the various stakeholders of the Taskforce, including with ComReg and with industry, in relation to the priority areas of focus. The Taskforce intends to meet throughout 2022, and is currently finalising a new work programme for formal agreement at the next meeting.
The commitment in the Programme for Government to continue to support the work of the Taskforce is recognition of and testament to the solid progress achieved to date by the Taskforce in alleviating barriers to the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure. My Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and all stakeholders of the Taskforce, including industry, are committed to building on its previous successes. We look forward to further improving services for citizens and reducing the urban/ rural digital divide in 2022.
The secretariat for the Taskforce can be contacted via email at mobilebroadbandtaskforce@decc.gov.ie
