Irish Water is a subsidiary of BGÉ, a State-owned company which has developed a telecommunications business through the laying of ducting alongside its gas pipeline network. Drawing on the considerable experience of BGÉ, it is a matter for Irish Water to decide, in the first instance, whether there is a commercial case for entering the liberalised telecommunications market. Any State investment in this market to ensure wider access to quality broadband services must be implemented in compliance with the applicable EU state aids guidelines.
The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to ensure that quality broadband services are available to all citizens regardless of where they are located. The National Broadband Plan will deliver this objective by accelerating investment in areas the commercial market will serve and through a State intervention to deliver quality broadband infrastructure in other areas.
The National Broadband Plan intervention will be planned on a least-cost approach, with bidders expected to utilise to the greatest extent possible, existing suitable infrastructure thereby minimising the requirement for new build. To this end, the Department will publish a database of available assets. Discussions will take place in this regard with relevant commercial and non-commercial State-entities and Government Departments as part of the detailed planning for the National Broadband Plan.
