Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The first phase of the programme is not working. It has cost approximately €80 million and its reported annual turnover was cited as €3.5 million in April, a poor return on a State investment by any measure.

From presentations to the relevant committees by the operators of the MANs, it is clear that a different system is needed. According to Mr. Conal Henry, the chief executive officer of E-Net, the operators need to connect directly to the buildings through which the MANs run. I have heard nothing different today. The cost to isolated areas in County Donegal, for example, means there is no effective and competitive backhaul network.

Companies like Smart Telecom are pulling out of the broadband business and Eircom announced 100 new broadband roll-outs today. Why are we spending €170 million to duplicate fibre already in the ground without a return? The Minister must consider taxpayers' interests rather than an ideological commitment to this project. Are we getting value for €170 million and why are we digging up roads to put down fibre optic cables that are already there or in a neighbouring road? Will the Minister change the project before the Committee of Public Accounts examines the matter in a year or two and determines it was a mistake, that we built something based on a positive idea and that it did not work? As the MANs are not working, what will the Minister do differently?

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