Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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577. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons by Civil Service grade working in the regional telecommunications development unit of his Department, in tabular form; the role of the unit in his Department with regard to the national broadband plan; the progress to date on the provision of a map of blackspots in mobile phone coverage undertaken by the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42990/19]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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There are currently 3.75 whole time equivalent civil servants working on telecommunications issues in the Regional Development and Innovation Unit of the Department of Rural and Community Development.  A breakdown of the staffing by grade is provided in tabular format.

Regional Development and Innovation Unit – Broadband Support

The Regional Development and Innovation Unit works closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to identify and mitigate barriers to the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure, including the National Broadband Plan (NBP).

The Unit shares responsibility with officials at the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, which I chair. The Unit also supports the nationwide network of 31 Local Authority Broadband Officers, who are co-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The  Broadband Officers play a pivotal role in local telecommunications development and will be central figures in the roll-out of the NBP.

With regard to mobile phone coverage mapping, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has made an online outdoor mobile coverage map available on its website, . This resource provides consumers with information on the quality of mobile services, by operator, across the country.  The map was a deliverable of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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578. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons by Civil Service grade working in the broadband office support unit of his Department, in tabular form. [42991/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Regional Development and Innovation Unit of the Department of Rural and Community Development is tasked with identifying and mitigating barriers to the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure, including the National Broadband Plan. The Unit works closely with Broadband Officers, who are co-funded by the Department, and based in each local authority, in support of this objective. The Unit also has responsibility for supporting the development of the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative.

There are currently 3.75 civil servants working in the Department's Regional Development and Innovation Unit on telecommunications issues.  A breakdown of staff by grade is provided in tabular format.