Rural Alliance suggest 4g interim fix

"We will also provide additional exchequer capital, if needed, to deliver on our commitment to bring next generation broadband to every house and business in the country by 2020."

"Following the the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which is expected mid-2017, we will increase capital investmnt in transport, broadband, education, health and flood defences."

3. Protecting Local Services
A) Next-generation Broadband
One of the biggest challenges facing rural Ireland is to bridge the digital divide with urban areas. To remedy this situation for at least the next 25 years, we will guarantee the delivery of next-generation broadband to every household and business in the country. No town, village or parish will be left behind under the National Broadband Plan. Once the contract is awarded the rollout phase will begin immediately and, in conjunction with commercial investment, 85% of premises in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband within two years, with 100% access as soon as possible up to at most 5 years.

The tender process for the National Broadband Plan is currently underway and will influence the contract's term s and conditions. Following the com pletion of the tender process and the law regarding of the contract, targeted for June 2017, the new Government will work with the winners to accelerate the roll out of the infrastructure build starting this year. We will work with local Councils to establish broadband taskforces to help facilitate the local rollout of commercial and National Broadband Plan infrastructure in each county area. The relevant Cabinet Committee will be updated regularly on the progress on the National Broadband Plan.

To manage that process and to manage all the State's commercial communications contracts, we will consolidate these responsibilities into a single entity. This will act as a centre of expertise for managing all the State's commercial activities in communications such as the NRA fibre ducts, the MANs network and masts on OPW lands, as well as the ultimate National Broadband Plan contract.

Mobile Phone & 4G Coverage
We will establish a mobile phone and 4G taskforce involving the Department of Communications, the Departm ent of Environment, the Departm ent of Transport, ComReg and the telecommunications industry to investigate how to provide better services for consumers including what State assets could be utilised.

The Membership of the Taskforce is as follows:

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
The Department of Arts, Heritage, Rural, Regional and Gaeltacht Affairs
The Department of Housing and Local Government
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
The Office of Public Works
NewERA
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Teagasc
Trinity College CCTV (Telecommunications Research Centre)
The City and Council Managers Association (CCMA)
Irish Rural Link
The Irish Country Women's Association
Business Representatives based in rural Ireland
The National Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
An Independent Planning Adviser
The Commission for Communications Regulation is participating on the Taskforce as an observer in order to provide advice and guidance in its capacity as the independent Telecommunications Regulator.