Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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578. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will consider entering into a partnership with the mobile network operators in Ireland to ensure mobile phone coverage blackspots in Ireland are eliminated in Ireland by part funding investments in network infrastructure in areas that are not currently financially viable for private investment alone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22345/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The issue of mobile network blackspots is something I am very familiar with and I know the impact this has on those living and working in rural Ireland. Addressing these issues is one of a number of reasons why, in December 2021, Minister of State Ossian Smyth and I reconvened the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

At the early meetings of the new Taskforce, we have set out our priorities for the Taskforce in 2022 and beyond, and we made it clear that the new Taskforce will be expected to tackle some of the more complex and longer-term issues that are standing in the way of better mobile and fixed connectivity.

Minister Smyth and I have identified specific issues to be addressed by this iteration of the Taskforce.  These issues relate to permit granting, planning and licencing issues, efficient use of infrastructure and assets, consumer protection measures and, most relevant to your question, improving outdoor mobile phone coverage.  This has provided the basis for a Work Programme for the new Taskforce.

The issue of poor mobile phone coverage is one that I am very eager to see improved going forward. There are actions in the Work Programme that seek to improve mobile phone coverage and consumer experience with blackspots. I expect to see the Work Programme formally published in the coming weeks once it has been agreed by all members. Work will then begin on implementing each action and progress will be monitored on an ongoing basis.

It should be noted that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for the telecommunications and broadcast sectors and as such engages regularly with mobile network operators on addressing mobile phone coverage blackspots.