Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

151. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if wireless broadband services are available at Ireland West Airport Knock using its metropolitan area network; the telecommunications operators using the metropolitan area network infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9800/22]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

152. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if engagements have taken place within his Department in relation to the possibility of providing wireless broadband services at Ireland West Airport Knock using its metropolitan area network to local households in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9801/22]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the newly established Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has plans to consider the efficient use of the infrastructure and assets based in the Knock metropolitan area network specifically and the possibility of connecting more customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9802/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together.

I am advised by enet, the company that manages the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) on behalf of the State that three telecommunications operators are currently using the fibre based Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) infrastructure at Knock. While the services provided by these operators are a commercial matter between the operators and their end customers, I am advised that some of these operators are providing wireless/ broadband services in the general area.

The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was re-established on 15 December 2021, which included attendance from key state stakeholders including ComReg and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland. The meeting, which was co-chaired by myself and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, served as an orientation discussion, providing each of the stakeholders in attendance with an opportunity to propose actions under a number of priority areas to form the focus of the new Work Programme, including efficient use of infrastructure and assets; permit granting, planning and licensing issues; improving outdoor mobile phone coverage in both rural and urban areas; and consumer protection measures.​

As part of considerations regarding how best to optimise the efficient use of infrastructure and assets into the future, the Taskforce will seek to build on work that is already underway at Local Authority level, focusing on measures aiming to remove remaining barriers affecting the openness and ease of access to infrastructure and assets, to further support the timely rollout of telecoms networks.