Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Communications
Period
1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025
Specific Details
Budget 2026 priorities for telecommunications sector
Intended results
Expansion of the remit of the Grow Digital Voucher for SMEs to include the costs of enabling fibre and 5G FWA Very High Capacity Network connectivity;
Funding of a fit for purpose mobile public warning system as done in Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK;
Funding for a multiannual plan to increase the redundancy and security of Ireland’s subsea cables;
Support for the delivery of fibre broadband to premises in fibre broadband “blackspots” outside the National Broadband Plan intervention area;
Use of spectrum fees and receipts from spectrum auctions collected from industry to fund a reduction in mobile coverage ‘blackspots’;
Upgrading of monitored personal alarm devices provided under the Senior Alert Scheme so that they incorporate mobile back up and can function over the fibre network;
Reduction of the fixed cost component on energy bills.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Torlach Denihan, Ibec Telecommunications Industry Ireland
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Jack Chambers
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform)
Paschal Donohoe
Minister (Department of Finance)
Patrick O'Donovan
Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)
Dara Calleary
Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)
Patrick Neary
Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)
Jerry Buttimer
Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)