National broadband plan report
Pearse Doherty challenges the Taoiseach on the implications and timetable of the broadband plan report and asks about the schedule. Richard Bruton defends the project as complex and says no investment schedule can be set until the tender is decided.
It is mindboggling that the Taoiseach just ignores what is happening on the streets of our city. The real casualties in the fiasco of the national broadband plan are the 500,000 households that have been left without high-speed broadband. It is six years since this plan was announced and we do not even have a commencement date - never mind a completion date - for it. Initially, it was to be completed by 2020. That will not be the case. The entire process is chaotic if not farcical. The Taoiseach mentioned that there are two evaluations taking place and that these will determine whether the bid can proceed. Can the Taoiseach outline to those who want this broadband delivered as quickly as possible - whether they be households, businesses or communities - when it is likely to be delivered to them? If the bid cannot proceed, what is plan B? Does the Government have a plan B?
Comment on this
This has been a very complex and ambitious programme. We are seeking to provide high-speed broadband to every premises in the country bar none. It will be 100% coverage and that involves over 500,000 premises. This has not been done by many other countries and it is an ambitious programme. I agree that the process has been complex. There was a competitive dialogue whereby anyone could come forward with whatever technology. We are now in the final stage of that. A final tender was submitted in September. That has to be carefully evaluated, apart from the subject matter we are intending to discuss later in the week. It has to be evaluated from the points of view of governance and value for money, all of the elements of which the Deputy would want to be assured. We are in the final stage of that process, which must come to a conclusion before we consider other options. It is important that we provide the time and opportunity for this bid to be properly assessed. That is what I intend to do and before coming back to the Government with an assessment. That is where matters stand.
Comment on this
Until a decision is taken, there cannot be a schedule of investment.
It is impossible to set out a schedule of investment until one decides whether one is going with the tender.