Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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429. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress in meeting actions under the mobile phone and broadband task force implementation group, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16216/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was published in December 2016. The report includes recommendations for actions that can be taken in the short-term to improve mobile phone reception and to facilitate better broadband connection, particularly in rural areas. The report also contains 40 action points which have been agreed to progress the recommendations.

Along with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, T.D., I established an Implementation Group to oversee progress on delivery of the actions set out in the report. The first meeting of the Implementation Group took place on 8th March last.

The Taskforce Implementation Group brings together all of the stakeholders responsible for the delivery of individual actions and is co-chaired by myself and Minister Naughten. The Implementation Group process will ensure that strong momentum and timely delivery is maintained over the coming months, and will enable early identification and proactive management of any emerging challenges.

Quarterly progress reports on the status of the actions outlined in the Taskforce report will be published following the end of each calendar quarter. A comprehensive annual review of progress will also be undertaken at the end of 2016, including feedback from a Stakeholder Forum to be held in late September.

The first quarterly progress report is currently being compiled by officials from my own Department and Minister Naughten’s Department, and will be published shortly.