Jack Chambers
Ceist:214. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a minimum number of premises in the national broadband plan intervention area was required. [49168/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 27 November 2019
Ceisteanna (214)
Freagraí scríofa
As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of State aid rules for broadband networks. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas where intervention is required.
Having consulted with industry on an ongoing basis, my Department recently conducted a final public consultation to close the mapping exercise for the intervention area in advance of the award of the NBP contract. The final intervention area now covers 537,596 premises. This was an important element in the State aid process and a positive State aid decision was received from the European Commission on 15 November.