Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2018
409. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the annual cost of setting up the broadband and mobile phone task force; the annual costs incurred and total Exchequer allocations made in each year since it was established; the number of part- and full-time civil servants attached to the task force; and the associated annual staff costs in this regard. [20104/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In July 2016, I established the Taskforce to identify immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers, prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
In relation to actual direct spending associated with the Taskforce by my Department, no expenditure was incurred in 2016. In 2017, spending of €6,572.87 can be directly attributed to the Taskforce. This includes €3,834.28 towards the National Stakeholder Forum and €2,738.59 towards the Taskforce stand at the National Ploughing Championships.
To date in 2018, expenses of €580.00 were incurred by my Department in relation to the launch of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Review 2017.
There are no Exchequer Allocations associated with the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce from my Department. However, all thirty one local authorities in the State receive an Exchequer Allocation from the Department of Rural and Community Development of €35,000 in order to fund a Broadband Officer. The Broadband Officer is a single point of contact in each local authority, ensuring consistency in engagement with operators and assisting in the roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure.
In terms of staffing costs, three officials in my Department are engaged in managing the Taskforce actions, and do so in the course of their normal duties. A number of other officials and experts from various Departments and State Bodies are working with key stakeholders to assist in the delivery of the actions.
