The national broadband plan faces further delays, with regional authorities being informed that construction work may not begin until the middle of next year. This is a matter included in the programme for Government. Executives in rural development authorities have been told by officials in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment that shovels are not likely to be in the ground in the first three months of 2018. In fact, they think it will be the summer or the autumn before work commences. They are now saying 540,000 rural houses and businesses will not receive broadband next year. That is what is being reported in today's edition of the Irish Independent and I thank the newspaper for setting it out. It is important factual information which we did not have until now. I ask the Taoiseach to make a statement, taking into consideration that the national broadband plan is included in the programme for Government.

Next year is only five weeks away and it is our objective to have the contract signed as soon as possible and homes connected next year. As the Deputy knows, there are only two bidders left. Inevitably, these things take time. There has to be a tender process and a contract and a further short period during which the unsuccessful bidder can challenge the process. At that point, the contractor has to mobilise and get the work done. After many years of delay, I am extremely confident that we will have the contract signed and that the work will get under way in 2018. The 500,000 homes and premises to which the Deputy referred will be connected in the next couple of years. I share the frustration of the House at the delays in getting to this point but 2018 will be the year it will happen.