Mr. Marcus Matthews:

I do not know but I know that 2 million properties were connected in fibre over the same period that the DSSB programme ran. The balance of the properties, of 1 million odd were connected because they were commercially viable. No state intervention of any nature was required for those. That project with those figures achieved a per-connected property cost of €1,250 approximately.

As to the approach it took to fibre - I will loop back around to the Deputy's point as to where fixed wireless comes in - on their figures as compared to what the NBP proposal is, our proposal would work out at approximately 23 times more expensive, based on a per property connection basis.

In Scotland's case, the DSSB was to bring fibre to as many properties as possible - achieving 95%. For the remaining 5%, it launched an initiative called Reaching 100. That programme aims to bring fibre to about 150,000 homes or to get as close as possible to 100%.