Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Under the public spending code, value for money reviews are conducted on existing programmes of expenditure and are targeted at areas of significant expenditure where there is the greatest potential for them to add value and influence policy developments. These are ex post evaluations.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is the sponsoring agency for the national broadband plan, NBP. As the Deputy will be aware, that Department is currently evaluating the final tender received under the existing procurement process. As such, this will be a new area of expenditure. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency for the NBP to comply with the provisions of the public spending code. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has conducted a full appraisal of the plan, including an economic appraisal in the form of a cost-benefit analysis.

In respect of the impact on the wider national development plan, NDP, it would not be appropriate to comment or speculate on the NBP at this juncture in advance of the Government having considered the matter.

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