Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Department advises me that the bidder in the NBP procurement process is led by Granahan McCourt and includes key subcontractors, Enet, Nokia, Actavo, the Kelly Group and the KN Group. Enet provides access to the MANs infrastructure together with day-to-day operational activities. Nokia will provide a range of high-speed broadband equipment across the intervention area. The KN Group, Kelly Group and Actavo will provide the necessary staffing and construction expertise when building the fibre over the Eir network. Eir is also a key subcontractor of the bidder and will provide in excess of 1 million poles and 15,000 km of ducting to serve customers in the intervention area. The lead equity bidder in the consortium remains the Granahan McCourt entity. In statements to the media, the Department has advised that this has been the case since the procurement process commenced in December 2013.

My role in this context is limited. The Department is responsible for the governance and evaluation of the tender in respect of which I have no role. As Minister, I have overall responsibility to ensure the Government's objectives under the NBP's State-led intervention area are achieved and I am also responsible for accounting for the timelines to the House.

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