Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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197. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date in respect of the two regional broadband action groups,with particular reference to the provision of an efficient broadband network across rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8967/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department co-funds a Broadband Officer in each Local Authority to act as a single point of contact for industry in relation to broadband and mobile phone services.

My Department has also established two Regional Action Groups to provide a coordinated approach to this work across Local Authorities and to identify and address obstacles to the rollout of telecoms infrastructure. Each Local Authority is represented on one of the Action Groups by their Broadband Officer.

A number of sub-groups have been established to progress individual work streams associated with the rollout of a high-speed broadband network, including in the areas of Digital Strategies, Scenario Planning, Environmental Assessment, and Engagement with Industry. Significant progress has been made in relation to all of these issues through the Regional Action Groups and also the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Group.

A key deliverable of the Regional Action Groups is the development of local Digital Strategies in each Local Authority area. Indecon consultants have recently been appointed to assist Local Authorities in preparation of Digital Strategies over the coming months, to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure development under the National Broadband Plan are fully realised from an economic and social perspective.