Written answers

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Rural Broadband Scheme

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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277. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the provision of rural broadband for rural County Kildare (details supplied). [44066/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There is a total of 95 premises in the townlands of Kilkea Demesne, Kilkea Lodge Farm and Kilkea Upperand Lower. All of these premises are in the AMBER area on the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.

The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process. 

The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage with evaluation ongoing of the final tender received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr. Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review will take place in parallel to the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender for the NBP State led intervention. 

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.

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