Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Rural Broadband Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Ceisteanna (377)

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

377. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made by the local and regional broadband taskforces and rural digital strategies she advised would be established to aid and accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30406/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In September, I established two Regional Broadband Action Groups to help support the roll out of rural broadband from next year. The Broadband Action Groups comprise officials from my Department, the Local Government Management Agency and nominated staff from each Local Authority. Both Groups met for the first time in the middle of September and will meet bimonthly for the foreseeable future.

The key objective in establishing these Groups is to ensure that each Local Authority is fully prepared to facilitate the winning bidder(s) to commence work as soon as the procurement process for areas identified for State intervention under the National Broadband Plan is complete, and contracts have been signed next year. This will be achieved by identifying barriers to the timely roll-out of broadband infrastructure and agreeing actions that can be taken to address those barriers.

Local Authorities are also working to identify priority connection points for the advance roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure in their counties. These strategic connection points will help to ensure early access to broadband at premises that are otherwise only likely to be reached towards the end of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan.

Work is also ongoing by Local Authorities in respect of the development of local digital strategies to ensure that once their counties are broadband enabled, they are capable of exploiting the economic and social opportunity at their disposal.

Barr
Roinn