Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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43. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which it is anticipated progress can be made towards providing and extending modern technology, such as broadband, mobile telephony and other sought-after services in rural and urban areas, with a view to ensuring the availability of the highest quality of such services at all locations throughout the country, thereby enhancing the quality of life for the residents therein and the attractiveness for job-creating investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31140/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Governmenthas committed to the delivery of next generation broadband to every household and business in the country through the National Broadband Plan. The Plan comes under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten T.D. However, as Minster with responsibility for the revitalisation of rural Ireland, I intend to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the roll-out of broadband to rural communities once the contacts for the areas to be covered by State intervention under the National Broadband Plan are awarded next year.

In this regard, I have established two Regional Broadband Action Groups, which involve all Local Authorities in the country, to ensure that there are no barriers to the deployment of broadband and to identify priority connection points for the advance roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure in each county. The Action Groups will also assist with the development of local digital strategies to ensure that when each county is broadband-enabled, they can maximise the economic and social opportunity at their disposal.

Earlier this year, along with Minister Naughten, I also established a Mobile Phone & Broadband Taskforce to identify and recommend practical actions that can be taken in the short term to improve mobile reception and broadband access in Ireland. The Taskforce will finalise its work shortly with a view to bringing forward a list of recommendations for the Government’s consideration by the end of the year.