COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, February 24, 2014

MOTION NO.12

MOTION: Councillor M. Duff

Cathaoirleachs Business

This Committee calls on the Manager to take urgent action to improve the broadband connection in the Council Chamber to allow elected members to access CMAS and membersnet during Area Committee meetings.

REPORT:

The motion has been clarified with Councillor Duff to refer to the wired network which as it happens is the recommended mechanism when in the Council Chamber for Elected Members to connect to the network.  This network is securely configured and will grant direct and secure access to the members corporate systems such as CMAS and MembersReps.

In order to assess the substance of this motion, a full test of the wired network was conducted on Thursday morning, 20th February 2014.  Unfortunately there were no issues identifiable when the tests were undertaken. Both connectivity and speed tests were conducted.  In the test conditions and with fully working hardware it was found that after approximately 10 seconds a Councillor's computer should be connected to the Councillors Wired Network.  Because these tests have been inconclusive and in such circumstance, we can't rule out the possibility that there could be specific issues with a Councillor's computer. As is protocol, a Councillor should raise a support ticket with the IT Staff and such matters will be investigated and actioned as may be appropriate.

Should any issue become clear with the connection available in the Council chamber, then the Council will have a basis on which to update and/or improve the network offerings, and appropriate action will be taken.  In the meantime the Council's IT staff will continue to monitor and respond to any issue raised or encountered by the elected members at their meetings.