Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Eir informed the committee last week that its proposal was not an offer. It has since stated it could complete the project for a subsidy of between €500 million and €1.5 billion. In its letter it states: "We note that under the NBP plan, where the cost of connecting a Customer is more than €5,000 the customer will be asked to make a contribution." We know that from the documentation supplied by the witnesses to the committee in recent weeks. The letter further states:

Where eir does not have existing connection infrastructure, eir [will] operate a similar policy within the 300k, which applies to 1-2% of connections and we believe is likely to cost less to the end customer than under the NBP.

Mr. Mulligan is correct that many newer houses would not have copper going into them because they are using a mobile network. I see that in my local area. Eir is stating clearly that it can provide a connection to houses on greenfield sites where there are no poles, ducting or anything else as cost effectively as what is envisaged under the national broadband plan. Is that not the case?