Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which mobile telephone services remain good when compared with other European Union Member States or adjoining countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55623/22]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Ireland’s digital connectivity strategy aligns with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030. Providing telecommunication services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by ComReg, to mobile operators who advises that the current minimum coverage obligations are being exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years came to €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile services both voice and data, throughout Ireland.

ComReg is in the process of running another Multi-band Spectrum Award to assign rights of use in four spectrum bands to enable the market to provide improved services to meet increasing consumer demand for mobile data and new services.

ComReg has developed an online national outdoor coverage map to provide clear information on where operators have good 2G, 3G and 4G coverage.

The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has been a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services nationwide with over 70 targeted actions completed to alleviate mobile and fixed connectivity barriers. It is co-managed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).

My Department worked with EU Member States to develop the EU Connectivity Toolbox, a collection of best practices which Member States can implement at national level to lower the cost of deploying very high-speed networks in order to foster better connectivity across the EU, which is being implemented via the new work programme of the Taskforce. The best practices include streamlining administrative and permitting granting procedures, and improving access to State assets.