Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Enet, therefore, is not the only subcontractor. I just wanted to clear up that issue. The last aspect of this matter concerns the national broadband plan. It started in 2015 with 850,000 houses. Today, we heard Eir has already taken 300,000 houses out of that original figure because it can do it commercially. The company has also stated that it is now replacing some of its old network with fibre and that will take another 80,000 houses out of the remaining 540,000. The total left will then be 460,000 houses. Mr. McCarthy may not be able to answer my next question. He can make a comment if he wishes or, if not, we can refer this back to the Department.

This plan is now for 20% of the 2.4 million premises in Ireland. We have had that figure and, between business and domestic, I think it is correct. The national broadband plan was to cover probably the last 30% or 40% of premises when it started but it is now for the last 20%. The commercial sector is now dealing with a big chunk of the original 30% or 40%. Eir made it clear today that if its board approved further investment it could possibly work on a commercial basis to reduce that figure further.

This committee will be concerned that the contract the Minister may approve - and I am not speculating on whether he will - will be for circumstances that are very different to the situation pertaining when negotiations commenced. The numbers covered the by national broadband plan could be dramatically reduced. As time passes, we are hearing that some of the premises currently included in the plan will be removed. There is no doubt we need the national broadband plan in rural areas but the numbers covered by and scale of this plan seem to be diminishing all of the time. Is that Mr. McCarthy's understanding? How is Enet, as a subcontractor, affected by this situation?