Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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428. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of broadband to a village (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41154/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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In April 2017 I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at . This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan.

There are 289 premises in the townland of Monkstown, Co. Cork. Approximately 116 (40%) fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. 173 (60%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers.

The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the National Broadband Plan State intervention is now at the final stage. Evaluation of the final tender submission is ongoing and will be allowed the time required.  On conclusion of the evaluation, my Department will make a recommendation to me on whether to appoint the bidder as preferred bidder and I will bring the matter to Government for decision.

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