Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband.  This will increase to nearly 8 out of 10 premises by the end of this year and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention.

The premises referred to in the question is in an AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at .  It is therefore included in the State Intervention Area under the NBP and one of the approximately c12,000 premises in County Westmeath that will receive access to high speed broadband under this State led Intervention.

My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company that will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. That procurement process is now in its final stages.

I recognise the importance of availability of high speed connectivity for all premises in Ireland and fully appreciate the frustration felt by people who do not currently have access to this level of connectivity.  Delivering connectivity under the NBP where commercial providers would not otherwise act remains a Government priority.

My Department’s technical  team carried out a desktop cellular path study which shows that there is a clear line of sight from the premises referred to by the Deputy to a mast site located 3.7km from the premises.  This mast is utilised by 3 retail mobile service operators.  The various antennae on the mast should be capable of providing 4G (LTE)  from one or all  of the mobile  service providers.  Individuals should check with mobile operators regarding services on  offer.

In addition to this potential interim solution, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.

Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen.  These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities.  The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure.  There is a link to a list of local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.