Earlier this morning, questions on the tendering process in respect of the national broadband plan, NBP, arose. Next week, we will have the opportunity to deliberate further on those matters but I want to raise the fact that more than 500,000 rural homes, businesses and farms are due to receive fast-tracked high-speed broadband connections next year. The Taoiseach has confirmed that contract will be signed in January. Will he confirm that again for the House? When will Members and communities receive details of the locations that are to be connected next year? I was in Kerry recently where the Healy-Raes live-----

Yes.

-----the Healy-Raes' kingdom, in Tralee and Castleisland. The issues facing rural Ireland are manifold. They cannot be reduced down to broadband but there is significant impatience with delivery. While all of this ruaille buaille about procurement and so on plays out politically, people are left without this service. Will the Taoiseach confirm the January date? Can he tell us when we and people outside this House will know the precise locations for connection?

The position is that the final tender, which was at the end of a competitive dialogue, was lodged with my Department on 18 September. That tender is now being evaluated by the Department to examine issues such as the robustness of the technology, the governance of the project, and value for money. I hope to be in a position to bring that to Government for a decision in the near future. It would not be possible for me or anyone else to outline a particular timescale or schedule until a contract is signed and the Government makes a decision to approve a particular proposal. This is at the end of a long process of procurement and we have to wait for a decision before we can indicate the outcome and the particular schedule.