Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
471. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the property at a location (details supplied) is included as part of the national broadband plan; the timeframe for the delivery of broadband to this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4113/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan, NBP, High-Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at: www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible, and I will bring a recommendation to Government in this regard in the coming weeks.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high-speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
