Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1553. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he expects to be in a position to assist urban or rural communities directly by way of grant aid or indirectly through the improvement of telecommunications with particular reference to the identification of particular black spots in respect of mobile phone coverage and broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2036/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016 to examine broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits in Ireland and identify tangible actions that can be taken to improve the quality of these services.

The Taskforce Report was published in December 2016 and set out 40 actions to alleviate barriers to mobile phone reception and broadband access.  An Implementation Group was established early in 2017 to oversee the implementation of the actions in the Taskforce’s report. Progress reports on the implementation of the actions are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis.

On the issue of mobile phone blackspots, following a pilot exercise with five Local Authorities in 2017, my officials are actively engaged with Local Authorities and mobile phone operators to identify priority blackspots and take action to address this issue in 2018.