Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Next year is only five weeks away and it is our objective to have the contract signed as soon as possible and homes connected next year. As the Deputy knows, there are only two bidders left. Inevitably, these things take time. There has to be a tender process and a contract and a further short period during which the unsuccessful bidder can challenge the process. At that point, the contractor has to mobilise and get the work done. After many years of delay, I am extremely confident that we will have the contract signed and that the work will get under way in 2018. The 500,000 homes and premises to which the Deputy referred will be connected in the next couple of years. I share the frustration of the House at the delays in getting to this point but 2018 will be the year it will happen.

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