Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not sticking my head in the sand, nor is the Department. We have 30 broadband officers in place. At the time they were only being put in place and were not working full time. To ensure the broadband officers are most effective, I meet them continually. I have met them bilaterally with their chief executives in Galway about two months ago. I have stressed to them the purpose of their role. It is not right to say we are doing nothing. For example, we are preparing coverage for Malin Head where there was no coverage.

In preparation for the national broadband plan, over 300 sites have been identified as the first places to get broadband when it is rolled out. Therefore we will have a hub in the communities. These have been identified by the broadband officers. In preparing for the future digitalisation of the country in rural and urban areas, the task force has been working with all the stakeholders to future-proof all our infrastructure. When installing services in the ground alongside roads etc., we are now putting in the duct work that is needed for the future.

In the Deputy's county, Mayo, the broadband officer has done a digital map of all the existing assets in every town, which will be rolled out to every county.

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