Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are some savings with metropolitan area networks, MANs, which gave rise to the €2.5 million underspend. In regard to MANs phase 1, this allocation is required to provide for any possible additional claim arising from a dispute from between Sligo County Council and the works contractor. There were no further developments in 2015 and the dispute is ongoing. The moneys will be required, however, in 2016.

On MANs phase 2, the underspend relates to retention moneys outstanding on two remaining MANs projects. The Department must verify that any outstanding issues have been completed and signed off before a retention claim can be paid. It is expected that these claims will be paid during 2016, provided the necessary works have been completed. The funding of these claims will be required for this project in 2016.

The management services entity, MSE, process relates to costs associated with the requirement for technical expertise to assist in the management of the MSE project, including technical audits of the MANs. A decision on whether to use internal or external expertise for these services is being considered. Depending on the outcome, a tender process will be conducted for the services, if required. These services were previously provided by Magnum Opus Consulting, the programme manager for MANs.

The item for Galway-Mayo relates to telecoms ducting to be installed alongside the main Bord Gáis Éireann gas pipeline in Galway-Mayo to provide optic fibre infrastructure to improve telecoms and broadband services in the region.

The Department is undertaking a tendering process to select a telecommunications operator that can act as an MSE to have the ducts and fibre brought into operation. However, it cannot be finalised until the telecommunications ducting is ready for hand-over to the Department by Bord Gáis Energy. This phase of the project should be finalised soon and good progress is being made, even as recently as today. Expenditure will not take place on the MSE aspect of the project during 2015.