Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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602. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeline for the completion of the review of the role of broadband offices; if this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43659/18]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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My Department provides funding to support the employment of a Broadband Officer in each Local Authority.  Broadband Officers have a remit in relation to both broadband and mobile phone access.

These Officers play an important role as the dedicated local point of contact for telecoms operators on coverage and roll out issues, and for promoting telecommunications infrastructure development in their respective Local Authority areas.

The response to the appointment of the Broadband has been very positive, with the telecoms industry strongly welcoming the structures put in place. Their employment is also ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagement with the industry and in clearing obstacles to the roll out of the necessary infrastructure.

The 2018 Work Programme of the Implementation Group which was established to drive the actions in the report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce includes a commitment to review the role of Broadband Officers in order to define and standardise the scope of their role across all Local Authorities. 

This review is being led by the County and City Management Association and is supported by my Department.  The review will determine what expertise and knowledge is necessary to complement the existing skillset of the Broadband Officers.  The review will be published following sign off by the County and City Management Association.