National broadband plan delay
Deputy Dooley seeks clarity on the national broadband plan, noting delays to the promised contract and asking about the Peter Smith review. The Minister says the commitment remains, the review terms are finalised, and the tender evaluation is continuing, with delivery at the earliest possible date.
On page 46 of the programme for Government Fine Gael outlines a guarantee to deliver high speed broadband to every home and business in the country by 2022. In the same document it indicated that a contract would be signed by a bidder in or about June 2017, but that did not happen. In the light of the delays, will the Minister outline the Government's commitment to roll out high speed broadband to 100% of homes in rural Ireland by 2022? Will he tell us what the status is of the Peter Smith review of the tendering process which was necessitated by certain recent activities?
Comment on this
It remains the Government's commitment to roll out the national broadband plan at the earliest possible date. The terms of reference of the review to be carried out by Mr. Smith have been finalised. I am not sure if it is time bound by the Department, the Government or the Minister involved, but we will let Mr. Smith have access to whatever information he requires. The tender was submitted on 18 September and the evaluation process continues. It is highly complex. I believe the draft contract runs to approximately 1,600 pages; therefore, it is extraordinarily complicated, but it is the Government's stated intention to proceed with the roll-out of high speed broadband to the areas that currently do not have access to it-----
Comment on this
-----at the earliest possible date.