Written answers

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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512. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects progress will be made on appointing a company to roll out rural broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39786/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area, and is now evaluating the Final Tender submission received from the bidding consortium on 18 September 2018. This is a significant milestone as the NBP procurement process enters its final stage.

For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, 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. The Department of Rural and Community Development maintain a list of Broadband Officers, a link to which is available on my Department's website at .

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