Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2018
219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding is available to the regional authorities from the European Regional Fund for the roll-out of broadband; the conditions attached to this; if he is satisfied these conditions can be met by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Circular 08/2015) sets out the eligibility rules in relation to the drawdown of all expenditure declared for Operational Programmes co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The current programme runs from 2014 to 2020.
The ERDF is delivered in Ireland through the Regional Assemblies. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) has secured a commitment of €75m from the ERDF of which €45m has been allocated to the Northern & Western region and €35m to the Southern region. Under State expenditure eligibility rules €150m is required to be spent to allow for drawdown of the €75m under the ERDF for the NBP project. A Major Project Notification to the ERDF is being progressed by my Department.
In 2015 the Government included an initial stimulus allocation of €275m for the State led Intervention under the NBP in its Capital Plan, with an acknowledgement that further Exchequer funding will be required over the lifetime of the NBP.
My Department remains committed to delivering high speed broadband to all premises in the country. In this regard the formal procurement process to engage a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area is now in its final stages.
