Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I think what the Deputy is driving at is the need for a large quantum of money in the budget this year for the national broadband plan.

It would not, in fact, be spent this year because, as I have indicated to Deputies, we have a programme of work this year that will put us in a position where we will be able to start rolling out the plan next year and in the short period beyond. Even if I had a big pile of money in the budget this year for the national broadband plan, it would not be possible to spend it because we will not have a contractor in place until next year. I have had a number of meetings with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. We are discussing the multi-annual capital plan with a view to expenditure in 2016 and 2017, to which the Government is fully committed. It is included in the statement of Government priorities from last summer. It is absolutely a priority across government.