Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for an update on the national broadband plan intervention strategy; and if a decision has been reached as to how it is to be rolled out and funded. [38964/15]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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In respect of the last question, the Minister will know that I asked the very questions that have now been posed by the Comptroller and Auditor General. I said I did not get adequate answers to them. If the Minister and the Department had listened to the concerns I expressed, we would not now have the adverse report.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Please introduce Question No. 74.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I commend Deputy Broughan on his raising of the matter. Can we focus in my question on the ownership of the infrastructure after the roll-out of broadband? Unlike those in Fianna Fáil beside me, I may be politically naive.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I do not think so.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I doubt that.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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However, I trust that the Government will do what it says on the tin. Ireland badly needs the broadband roll-out. If it does not happen, the Government will know all about it at the next election.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I would not dream of accusing the Deputy of naivety. The Deputy has been a supporter and has understood realistically what such a huge State investment entails. I thank him for that.

The Government's national broadband plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high-quality, high-speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investment and State-led intervention in areas in which commercial services are not provided. On 29 September 2015, the Government approved an allocation of €275 million for the NBP, which will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention. Combined with commercial investment, this will ensure that 85% of Ireland's premises have high-speed broadband by 2018, with 100% coverage being achieved by 2020. Last November I published a national high-speed coverage map for 2016, which is available at our website, .The map is based on the most up-to-date information available at the time of publication. I encourage consumers to consult the websites of the various commercial operators to ascertain the details of current and future deployment plans.

Following the publication of the NBP's proposed intervention strategy in July last, 38 responses were received. Non-confidential versions of these submissions have been published since last week, and these can be accessed at . Meanwhile, my Department continues to review the technical and financial detail relating to potential new commercial investment proposals with a view to updating the intervention area map. I expect to publish an updated version of the map, finalise the strategy and move to the formal procurement phase before the end of the year. The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible. Engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within three to five years of the contract award.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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While I thank the Minister for the reply, I am still unclear as to the Government's strategy on the ownership of the infrastructure. Is it the Government's intention that most of the infrastructure - the spine of the system - will be in public ownership? Is it the Government's intention that the spine and the connections to the more rural areas will be in public ownership? Alternatively, is it the Government's intention to hand ownership of the infrastructure over to private industry? I ask the question because this will be a most valuable piece of infrastructure and it will be possible to make money from it.

I would prefer to see the Irish people, and not private investors, making that money through public ownership. If this is in private hands, we will be at the mercy of private companies, whose motivation naturally will be profit, and the Government will have no influence over what they charge or how they improve connectivity and the infrastructure.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Deputy is right, in that the issue of ultimate ownership is one of those that requires to be determined. This relates to many of the other questions that have required to be addressed in recent months during the time when the Deputies opposite seem to believe that nothing was happening. There are issues of ownership of the network, the financing structure for the public investment, the legal framework, state aid implications in the EU context, etc. We are engaging in an analysis. The issue that the Deputy raises is a live one. We require further analysis before the Government is in a position to reach a determination on what is the most appropriate ownership model for the network at the end of the period. This is an important issue and I want all of its various aspects to be evaluated and considered before a final decision is made.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I understand the answer.