Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Not only am I surprised by the Minister's answer, but I am quite worried by it. We have been waiting for nearly a year for a progress report on the promised one-stop shop for State-owned broadband services to facilitate those investing in broadband in Ireland and piggy-backing on investment the State has made, whether in fibre, in ducting or in whatever infrastructure.

The Minister has confirmed today that the NRA will be the one-stop shop and it will deal only with ducting infrastructure. Is it the case that he has given up on the project of bringing together all the State-owned infrastructure? He has now provided this information on the Department's website so it is clear to see who owns what. The purpose was to achieve a co-ordinated approach so that people could use one portal to establish how they could use and benefit from State-owned infrastructure. His reply to my question seems to imply the Minister has abandoned this concept, with the exception of the NRA dealing with the ducting infrastructure. Is this the case?

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