Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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567. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the local authorities that have a FTE broadband officer. [3321/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding to support the employment of a Broadband & Telecommunications Officer in each Local Authority. Broadband & Telecommunications Officers are currently employed in all 31 Local Authorities and have a remit in relation to both broadband and mobile phone access.

These Officers play an important role as the dedicated local point of contact for telecoms operators on coverage and rollout issues, and for promoting telecommunications infrastructure development in their respective Local Authority areas.

The response to the appointment of the Broadband & Telecommunications Officers has been very positive, with the telecoms industry strongly welcoming the structures put in place. Their employment is also ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagement with the industry and in clearing obstacles to the rollout of infrastructure.

My Department is in contact with the Broadband & Telecommunications Officers in all Local Authorities on a continuous basis, both collectively through two Regional Action Groups established by my Department, as well as bilaterally to address issues impacting on the rollout of telecoms infrastructure at local level.