Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
149. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the annual projected expenditure in funding by the State on the national broadband plan for the years 2021 to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10274/22]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract signed in 2019 provides that a future proofed high speed broadband network will be deployed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to people living and working in the intervention area. It is expected that over 600,000 premises will be served by the fibre network, including new builds. The maximum possible cost to the State will be €2.7 Billion over 25 years. The majority of this subsidy will be used over the years 2022 to 2030 as NBI achieve deployment milestones and connects premises. The total cost also includes €480m in conditional subsidy that may be triggered in a limited number of specific circumstances. Exchequer spend on the NBP in 2021 was €144.8 million. The funding available for the NBP for 2022 is €225 million. Work is underway to re-baseline milestones for 2022 and beyond, with targets for 2022 to be agreed in the coming weeks. This work will inform the budgetary and expenditure profile for 2022 and beyond.
