National Broadband Plan

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Questions (1312, 1313, 1314)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

1312. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the procurement process for the national broadband plan. [36601/17]

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1313. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of full time equivalent positions in his Department with responsibility for the national broadband plan. [36602/17]

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Timmy Dooley

Question:

1314. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes connected under his Department's agreement with a company (details supplied). [36603/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1312 to 1314, inclusive, together.

The national broadband plan (NBP) is led at senior management level in my Department supported by a team comprising a broad mix of expertise and experience, including expert staff seconded from the Telecommunications Regulator, ComReg. The Team is fully supported by external professional expertise including technical, commercial, economic, legal, environmental and financial, to assist in the delivery of the project. In addition there is external oversight in the form of a steering group, which oversees the strategy development and operation and a procurement board which oversees the procurement processes. Both of these groups are chaired by the Department and comprise independent expert advisers. The size of the team varies from time to time, according to the specific needs of the project and is scaled up or down as necessary. There are approximately 30 full time equivalent personnel on the project.

The procurement process has progressed to the 'Detailed Solutions' stage which is the last stage of the procurement process before Final Tenders are sought.

My Department has concluded that Eir has met its Quarter 2 target as outlined in the Commitment Agreement and a total of over 70,000 premises have now been passed, in accordance with the agreement.