Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1482. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for introducing a licensing regime for repeaters in 2017 which will allow householders and businesses to install high quality signal repeaters on their buildings, to boost in-house signals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41697/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I am critically aware of the frustrations being felt across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to establish a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. This Taskforce was established in July 2016 and published its final report in December 2016. The Taskforce included representatives from across Government and agencies as well as engagement with the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the telecoms industry.

On December 20 2016, Minister Humphreys and I published the Final Report of the Taskforce, which identifies 40 such actions, 19 of which were singled out for immediate implementation in the accompanying Implementation Programme on Mobile Phone and Broadband Access. These documents are publically available on my Department’s website.

In its consideration, the Taskforce acknowledged that there is a requirement to investigate the use of mobile phone repeaters, mainly in rural areas, to enhance signal quality. It recognised the clear need for a transparent regime that would allow for the orderly installation of suitable mobile phone repeaters in order to address the problem of indoor coverage issues.

The development of the licensing scheme is a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent from Government in the exercise of its functions. I do, however, understand that ComReg intends to commence work on the scheme this year.