Michael Moynihan
Question:679. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated costs of delivering universal broadband to all premises. [46315/15]
View answerThursday, 17 December 2015
Questions (679)
Written answers
The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.
On 29 September 2015, the Government agreed and published its 6 year Capital Plan, Building on Recovery, which included an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan. This will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention and it is expected that further funding will be available over the lifetime of any contract(s).
Funding of €75m is also committed through the European Regional Development Fund and is generally drawn down after Exchequer expenditure is first incurred.
Combined with commercial investment, this will ensure that 85% of Ireland's premises have high speed broadband by 2018, with an ambition of 100% coverage by 2020.
Because a competitive procurement process is anticipated, it would be neither advisable nor appropriate to speculate about the potential overall cost of the NBP at this stage. Ultimately, the outcome of the procurement process will determine the final cost of the intervention. I expect to proceed to formal procurement before the end of this year. Progress on the project and the outcome of the procurement process will influence the quantum of Exchequer funding that will be expended on the NBP in 2016.