Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider commissioning a study on the potential broadband and other infrastructures of the future to transform the quality of life in rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45044/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Rural and Community Development, it is obvious to me that there is no limit on the ambition and creativity of rural communities. Through my engagement in a number of projects supported by my department, I have seen first hand the impact of innovative new technologies applied to rural settings.

My department's Digital Innovation Programme has invested almost €3M into local authority-led pilot projects across the country since 2018. These projects range from life-saving initiatives using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, to tourism projects in Kerry and Sligo using digital connectivity to enhance the visitor experience. In Malin Beg, Donegal, we supported the community to resolve a long-standing connectivity issue that had prevented residents from being able to access the internet or from making a mobile phone call. Malin Beg now has 4G coverage and a remote working hub.

My Department also co-funded the WiFi4EU programme in Ireland, extending the impact of the EU's ground-breaking public connectivity initiative. The WiFi4EU network now boasts c.1,000 free public WiFi hotspots in towns, villages and cities nationwide.

As I consider further supports for digital development in rural areas, I must ensure that there is coherence in our approach and that the public benefit remains to the forefront. On that basis, I believe that the Public BCP project offers a significant opportunity to anchor much of the coming digital development work in communities.

While the Public BCP project was originally envisaged as a WiFi only community programme, it has quickly evolved into a sophisticated and complex project that, when complete, will provide for an almost limitless suite of digitally-enabled services

Since 2020, my department has trialled a number of schemes at Public BCPs under the thematic headings: eHealth, Remote Work, Training and Education, and Arts and Culture. The findings from these pilots have proven very useful and have, in many cases, highlighted unknown opportunities.

Accordingly, I have directed my officials to prepare a Public BCP Development Strategy. This strategy will be drafted in consultation with the communities that the Public BCPs serve and will place these publicly accessible facilities at the heart of the rural digital revolution.

My officials have already begun engaging with colleagues across government and further afield to identify schemes and programmes that will leverage the high-speed broadband now available at each site and add value for local communities.

Through the implementation of Our Rural Future, we will continue to leverage the benefits that greater digital connectivity and innovative technologies and infrastructures can bring to rural Ireland.