1102. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration was given to potential negative impacts on the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, the only gold tier reserve in the northern hemisphere, in its discussions with a company (details supplied) on the siting of its pilot communications antennae project. [12038/21]

My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. As part of this objective, my Department engages with a wide variety of organisations and stakeholders to improve access to mobile phone and broadband services throughout rural Ireland.

Late last year, officials at my Department were contacted by a company which was interested in exploring possible sites for a small-scale pilot deployment of the company's equipment in the State, in line with the provisions of a trial license issued by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

The company was provided with the contact details for the Local Authority Broadband Officers. They also addressed the monthly Broadband Officers network meeting on 25 February 2021.

It is not within the remit or expertise of my Department to assess the company's equipment or its planned pilot deployment. The decision to proceed with the pilot is a matter for the relevant Local Authority. My Department has had no role in the matter beyond the introductions that it made to the Broadband Officers.