Telecoms exempted development regulations
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae sought clarification on updated regulations for telecom infrastructure and local authority interpretation. Deputy Naughten said the regulations were being drafted and would go to committee before year end, while criticising councils for charging development contributions against Government policy.
Yes, fully. With regard to the programme for Government and phone coverage and the updated exempted development regulations for telecom companies, it is my understanding that a joint circular from the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Michael Ring, which includes the detail on the updated regulations and how recommendations should be interpreted by our local authorities has been shared with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Those recommendations are scheduled to be discussed and reviewed in the Oireachtas before the end of the year. Their enactment would allow for the smoother deployment of telecommunications infrastructure, in keeping with proper planning, to ultimately enable better coverage of services for counties such as County Kerry. Does the Taoiseach have an update on the matter?
Comment on this
Yes. Those regulations are being drafted and I think the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, intends to present them to the committee before the end of the year. I wish to highlight, however, that local authorities are still going against Government policy and direction from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and charging development contributions for the roll-out of communications infrastructure. I plead with colleagues in this House, some of whom spoke earlier on the roll-out of infrastructure in their constituencies yet they are taxing the roll-out of infrastructure. It needs to be resolved quickly.