Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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606. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 694 of 31 January 2017, if he or his officials have had meetings to date in 2017 with, or been lobbied by, persons, businesses, public representatives, public bodies or communities on their prioritisation in the roll-out schedule of the national broadband plan; the details of any such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24765/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As I indicated in reply to Question No. 694 of 31 January 2017 the formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the National Broadband Plan State Intervention Area, is ongoing. Following the conclusion of that procurement process my Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand and a prioritisation programme will be put in place in this regard, in consultation with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A detailed roll-out plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place. 

While the NBP procurement process is ongoing, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Task Force will continue its work to deliver solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits and ensure better services for consumers prior to the full build and roll-out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.

While in addition to parliamentary questions, my Department and I have also received representations and queries regarding the NBP, these have been focussed on ensuring that high speed broadband services will become available as quickly as possible, rather than seeking priority relative to other potential beneficiaries of such services.