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

The figures I placed on the record of the Dáil were provided to me by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. I am sure it verifies them but I will check that it does so because it is important. It is fair to say we are behind target in the roll-out of the national broadband plan. We have not passed as many homes as had been anticipated. The figures I have indicate the numbers connected are doing quite well and are largely in line with the target. As the Deputy pointed out, we can pass premises but there is no obligation on them to connect. Estimates were made on how quickly people would connect and this appears to be happening in line with or better than target. We are behind in the number of premises passed. We can catch up and we intend to do so. With regard to the project, as far as I understand it is on budget because the way the contract is structured is that the company largely gets paid for the work it has done. It only gets the money when a premises is passed. If it runs behind schedule we pay less, if this makes any sense.

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