Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My questions relate to the two letters, one from Robert Watt of 16 April, the other the response from the Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mark Griffin, of 24 April. Mr. Ó hÓbáin said it was a matter of accident what side of the line a civil servant might be on, but I would always be on the side of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, possibly because of my own past experience as a Minister of that Department. I generally take a dim view of most advice of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform because, as sure as eggs are eggs, it always says we should not be investing in digital or renewables etc. It has an instinctive desire to protect the public purse and is sceptical of most initiatives coming from line Departments, so I expected the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to be concerned about the proposals. Despite its opposition to the fundamental strategic decision to invest in fibre to the home, I think it is the right decision as it is ambitious for the long term. I am more concerned about the fact that it is more concerned about the rate of return to the private developer, which is not its normal modus operandi. When it expresses concern about the transfer of ownership to the private sector, which goes completely against its traditional outlook on the world, I really sit bolt upright. Why is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which is not accustomed to using exaggerated language and normally couches its ideas in subtle ways, giving such stark warnings?

In the response from Mark Griffin of 24 April there is small detail at the end stating the Department would incur a cost of €10 million per year to maintain a team to oversee the project. I presume that €10 million is not included in the other project costs that have been itemised. Is that correct?