Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an offer for a Wi-Fi hotspot which was made to a school (details supplied) in County Galway in June 2018; when progress will be made on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43306/18]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As a part of the prioritisation strategy for roll out of the National Broadband Plan, my Department, in consultation with Local Authority Broadband Officers and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, have identified a network ofclose to 300 Broadband Connection Points which will provide free Wi-Fi to rural communities in advance of high-speed broadband being rolled out in their area.

The aim of these hubs is to provide early access to high-speed broadband for rural communities that are situated in areas that are otherwise likely to only be connected towards the end of the roll out process.

These hubs will be prioritised during the roll out of the National Broadband Plan, with the cost of connecting these locations shared between the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.  The school referred to by the Deputy was identified by the relevant Local Authority as an ideal location to act as a Broadband Connection Point. 

Officials from my Department have recently requested the Local Authority Broadband Officers to engage with relevant stakeholders and management boards responsible for the locations which have been identified to act as Broadband Connection Points to seek their approval in principle in order for them to be ready for connection once roll out of the National Broadband Plan in the State intervention area commences.