Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae's question, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment, the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and I chair a mobile phone and broadband task force, the role of which is to examine immediate measures we can take in the short-term to alleviate the broadband and the mobile phone service deficits right across the country. The task force has identified some measures and actions that need to be taken to improve the mobile coverage and it will report back to us on a number of issues at the next meeting. We have had one meeting with them and they have met a number of times. They have identified a number of issues. It is about trying to improve coverage.

In terms of social farming, that falls under the remit of the Department of Social Protection, it does not come under our Department's remit. On the question on rural resettlement, that comes under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. That is where the action plan comes into play and that Department will set out actions with respect to those matters.