John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role she envisages for local authorities in the roll out of rural broadband; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19992/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Local Authorities will have a key role to play in the roll out of Rural Broadband. I have already commenced a programme of meetings with Local Authorities to underline this and I intend to meet with each Local Authority Chief Executive over the coming months to reinforce the importance of the rollout of broadband, and explain to them exactly what will be required. I will be asking them to establish dedicated working groups to overcome any possible barriers and to ensure there will be no unnecessary delays to the rollout of this important infrastructure to rural communities.

The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded. In this regard, I will establish a number of regional broadband taskforces, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices, LEADER Groups and other relevant agencies. The Taskforces will help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, by ensuring that there are no local barriers to deployment and by identifying priority areas for rollout. To this end, they will also develop Rural Digital Strategies, which will include proposals for regional digital hubs.