Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with Mr. Griffin. That is why I am asking questions in relation to the fixed price. Obviously, Covid-19 will have some impact on that. However, we are also aware of considerable supply chain difficulties in the global market at the moment. There are considerable labour market pressures including and specifically for engineers, which is always a challenge. Our experience on this committee in relation to variations on a project is considerable. I refer, for example, to the work that we have done on the national children’s hospital. We understand the level of oversight that is necessary, but that is why I am asking the questions about the fixed price.

Can I go to the point on existing infrastructure that Mr. Griffin made in his August letter to the committee?

Rural Ireland is a huge focus of the NBP. My colleague from Dún Laoghaire, Deputy Devlin, will agree with me that we also have problems in the cities. Substantial existing infrastructure is held by various councils, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Ervia and the ESB. I am open to correction, but I read somewhere that Dublin City Council even has a telecoms department. What is the Department's role in pulling all of those assets together and making them more accessible for the enhancement of the city broadband network? What is the blueprint for bringing all of the existing infrastructure together that is in the road and is held by State assets?