Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

We all accept that mobile phones now play a major part in the social and working lives of the vast majority of our citizens. We become more and more reliant on them as the weeks and months roll by. Can we ask the Minister for communications if works are planned to improve mobile phone coverage in County Kerry and all over Ireland in those blackspots we all come across in our daily lives? These blackspots, for whatever reason, be it mountain shade or otherwise, continue to interrupt the social and business lives of our citizens if they are only passing through them but more particularly and deeply if they happen to live within blackspot boundaries.

This issue must be addressed, especially to allow us to deal with emergencies. In my county of Kerry, there are several locations where mobile phone coverage is either non-existent or subject to regular interruption. These include the Tralee to Dingle road, Camp, Anascaul, Glencar, Gneevgullia, the Black Valley, Ballintleave, Curraheen near the Kerry bog village, Mountain Stage, Dromaclaurig, Ballinskelligs, to name just a few. These areas suffer regularly due to an unfulfilled mobile service.

Could the Tánaiste clarify with the Minister if the Department has plans to deal with this issue? Can we get timelines for delivery of 100% mobile telephone coverage to all of Kerry and Ireland?

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