Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposals he has to progress the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain support to the mobile phone and broadband taskforce in removing mobile phone and internet black spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18055/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2022, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy was published which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and set out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028.

The Programme for Government 2025 includes a commitment to “Maintain support to the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in removing mobile phone and internet black spots, especially along roads and rail networks.” with the intention to “... examine the role of 5G in helping to overcome these blackspots.”

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.

My Department is currently carrying out a detailed analysis of a range of scenarios where it may be uneconomic for commercial operators to cover premises not part of the NBP with a Gigabit Capable Network (GCN) by 2028. Once this has been done my Department will examine the optimal policy solution/s, including from a cost and legal perspective, to addressing such potential Gigabit Blackspots (GBS).

However, it is also important to note that a number of commercial operators are planning to continue rolling out fibre networks into 2026 and under European State Aid rules any intervention by the State must not be seen to crowd out private investment.

The current iteration of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce runs from April 2022 to April 2025. The Taskforce will be reconstituted and will be co-chaired by Minister O’Donovan in his role as Minister for Communications and Minister Calleary as Minister for Rural and Community Development (DRCD). Both Departments will work together with the key stakeholders to identify key priority areas of focus to continue to overcome barriers for the provision of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in the State, and maintain support in removing mobile phone and internet black spots, especially along roads and rail networks. The Taskforce will also look to examine the role of 5G in helping to overcome these blackspots.