Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It will be done by summer 2016. I have been fairly accurate in the estimates I have given to colleagues up to now. I imagine it will be by midyear.

What are the solid dates? 2020 is a solid date in terms of completing the entire project. We brought a new date into play recently, which is an improvement on what we had been saying. We are saying everything will be completed by 2020. In addition to that commitment we are saying that 85% will be done by 2018. That is an additional milestone - I will not use the word "promise". In this business, we should not use the word "promise". Anyway, that is a realistic target in my view.

I appreciate the frustration. The Deputy asked me what has been happening all these years. One thing we discover when we examine this in detail is that the ambition has been scaled up in terms of what we are doing. Previous undertakings by previous Ministers were given in good faith based on where they were at the time but they were nothing like as ambitious as what we are discussing now. We are talking about delivering this to every home and business. We are talking about high-speed high-quality broadband. All of the previous undertakings given at various stages were offered in good faith based on the information and the level of technological advancement at the time. This is the most ambitious that we can conceivably be. I have discussed the matter with people from other countries and I believe this is the top of the line in terms of what we are going to deliver for the people, particularly the people of rural Ireland. We need people to keep faith with us. We must hope that whoever is in the next Government and whoever is in this job will pick up the baton immediately and ensure that this is driven home. We need the continuity and commitment. We need the continuity that cross-party support for this project can ensure. I say as much as a personal point. We could do without any delays next year, when there will be a change of government.

Reference was made to controlling the situation. This is a contract. People will not be paid until they do the job. That is how we control it. Unless a service provider is delivering high-speed broadband the organisation in question is not going to get paid. That is the best control we can possibly have.

Can we prioritise different areas? Yes, we can. Let us consider the Chairman's remarks earlier. In the bidding process we can nail down some of the issues about where the successful bidder will go first or what order of work the successful bidder will plan for. We can weave into the bidding process a certain amount of prioritisation. That relates to Deputy Harrington's point earlier as well.

There was a question relating to peat and bioenergy. The Department produced and published a bioenergy plan in 2014. I have had close contact with Bord na Móna in respect of its plans. In fairness, the company has an impressive plan. The plan is to migrate from the traditional activity, which was the burning of peat, to being a real leader in renewable energy in the areas of biomass, solar and wind. Bord na Móna can use its extensive land bank to facilitate the development of the portfolio of renewable energy. I met representatives of the company recently in Newbridge and I see them regularly. They keep me informed on their plans. Under the leadership of the chairman, John Horgan, and the new chief executive, Mike Quinn, I believe they are making great strides.