Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 April 2017
467. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the mobile and broadband task force; the number of meetings that have been held since January 2017; the action points which have been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18161/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016 to identify actions that can be taken in the short-term to improve mobile phone reception and to facilitate better broadband connection, particularly in rural areas. The Taskforce met on a monthly basis up to December 2016, with sub-group meetings taking place in between those meetings to progress particular work streams.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce published a report on completion of its work in December 2016. The report contains 40 action points which have been agreed to progress the recommendations made by the Taskforce.
Along with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, T.D., I recently established an Implementation Group to oversee progress on delivery of the actions set out in the Taskforce report. The Implementation Group brings together all of the stakeholders responsible for the delivery of individual actions and is co-chaired by myself and Minister Naughten. The first meeting of the Implementation Group took place on 8 March last.
Quarterly progress reports on the status of the actions contained in the Taskforce report will be published following the end of each calendar quarter. A comprehensive annual review of progress will also be undertaken at the end of 2016, including feedback from a Stakeholder Forum to be held in late September.
The first quarterly progress report is currently being finalised by officials from my own Department and Minister Naughten’s Department, and will be published shortly.
