Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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601. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the terms of reference, membership and progress of the working group to explore the feasibility of developing a standardised policy for accessing and utilising State assets for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure established in March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43658/18]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in 2016 to identify immediate solutions to broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits, and to investigate how better services could be provided to consumers prior to full build and roll out of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State Intervention. The Taskforce published its final report in December 2016, addressing a wide range of issues impacting on the provision of broadband and mobile phone services.

An Implementation Group, chaired by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, was established in early 2017 to oversee the implementation of all of the actions contained in the Taskforce Report. 

Arising from 2018 work programme of the Implementation Group, a Working Group on State and Publicly Owned Assets was established earlier this year to explore the feasibility of developing a standardised policy for accessing and utilising State assets for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure. 

The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are to:

1.  Develop a policy statement for the siting of telecommunications infrastructure on or in publicly and State-owned assets, and submit for approval by Government;

2. Work with key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive dynamic database of public and State-owned property assets and make it available to telecommunications companies;

3. Consult as appropriate with key stakeholders;

4. Develop appropriate templates for use by public bodies for the licensing of telecommunications infrastructure.

The Working Group is chaired by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and includes officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, and NewERA.

I understand that the Working Group has met on a regular basis in 2018, with a view to reporting to the Government by the end of this year.