Written answers
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Departmental Bodies
Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the initial meeting of the newly established Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce; if he will provide the contact details for the Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2151/22]
Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expected date for the finalised work programme of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce; the full membership of the Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2152/22]
Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce is co-managed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). Membership is drawn from a range of Departments and bodies including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Transport; Transport Infrastructure Ireland; the Roads Management Office; the Local Government Management Agency; the County and City Management Association; and the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The work of the Taskforce is supported by ComReg, acting as an independent advisor to the Taskforce, and has ongoing engagement with the Telecommunications Industry including through Ibec. Inputs will be sought by the Taskforce from other bodies as appropriate.
The State stakeholders of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce ('the Taskforce') reconvened on 15 December 2021. The meeting, which was co-chaired by me and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, served as an orientation discussion, providing each of the State stakeholders with an opportunity to propose actions under a number of priority areas to form the focus of the new Work Programme, including permit granting, planning and licencing issues; efficient use of infrastructure and assets; improving outdoor mobile phone coverage; and consumer protection measures.
Following on from the meeting, both my Department and Department of Rural and Community Development look forward to working closely together and engaging bilaterally with the various stakeholders of the Taskforce, including with ComReg and with Industry in relation to the priority areas of focus. The Taskforce intends to meet throughout 2022, and is currently finalising a new work programme for formal agreement at the next meeting in February.
Relevant links associated with the work of the Taskforce including the secretariat contact point can be found at: gov.ie/en/publication/db7f83-mobile-phone-and-broadband-taskforce/.
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