Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Leyden raised the issue of timelines for delivery. In the past 12 months, telecommunications infrastructure involving high-speed broadband with services of up to 1 GB per second download speed has been delivered to over 280,000 premises. The roll-out of connections to 300,000 premises will deliver for 810,000 people, one third of farms and over 1,000 schools. The completion of the procurement process for the national broadband plan is the only way to ensure the most efficient delivery of high-speed broadband to the people of Ireland.

Senator Ó Céidigh mentioned several areas in regard to competitive finance infrastructure, reliability and that it is critical to roll on with the process and connections. I accept that farmers, business people and others awaiting high-speed broadband are frustrated. The role and commitment of the Government is to delivery to the whole of society in the shortest possible timeframe, which is the key priority for the Government. The House will agree that is an admirable and worthy aim. As the Minister, Deputy Naughten, stated, the remaining bidder, Enet-SSE, is an experienced consortium with international experience, as stated by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, and it has re-affirmed its commitment to the national broadband plan project and its intention to deliver in that regard.

Senator Conway-Walsh discussed the national broadband plan. The procurement process is entering its final stage and it is for the bidder to promote its solutions and methodology for the roll-out of broadband. The remaining bidder, Enet-SSE, has demonstrated a technical financial methodology for delivery of the national broadband plan for both urban and rural Ireland. The completion of the procurement process is the most effective mechanism to deliver high-speed broadband, rather than possibly leading to its delay or similar. The preferred bidder will be identified by September of this year and the physical roll-out of high-speed broadband will commence in the amber areas following the signing of the contract.

Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the worthy ambition to connect all houses, with which all Members agree, and mentioned the sale of Telecom Éireann, as did Senator Coffey and others. In hindsight, the lock, stock and barrel sale of its infrastructure, poles and lines was a retrograde and regrettable decision. The Government has agreed that, with the Minister, Deputy Naughten, it will bring forward legislation to create certainty on infrastructural access and maintenance over the 25 years of the contract. The national broadband plan is not just about delivering for today or next year but, rather, delivering and being future-proofed for up to 25 years because, as we know, technologies change and advance with time. It is important that the contract includes a requirement on future-proofing, and that is part of the reason for the complexity and delay in that regard. We will bring forward proposed legislation intended to apply to all infrastructure owners where infrastructure is required for the delivery of the national broadband plan.

Several other Senators made contributions. Senator Coffey raised the issue of the commitment in the national planning framework which is due out on Friday. It is strange to hear commentary on a plan that has not yet been published. A draft plan was published a long time ago but there will be substantial changes to it because there has been substantial engagement in that regard by Senators and Deputies of all parties in recent months. There have been debates in this House on this very important project to be announced on Friday.

Senator Mulherin discussed the national broadband strategy, which provided for very basic broadband at the time and is not comparable to the roll-out of high-speed fibre broadband to homes that is now planned in most cases.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of the time of delivery. The plan is for the contract to be signed by September and that roll-out will then begin. Eir will be continuing with the contract to which it has committed, as will other private operators.

Senator Kieran O'Donnell raised the issue of Eir using the network and negotiations in that regard. This has been going on for a long time. Although SIRO had its own plans in that regard, usage of the Eir network formed part of all discussions that have taken place with Enet-SSE. When there was an initial consultation last September, the closing date of that stage, much information was brought forward by the bidders on their concerns regarding how they envisaged this going ahead. There was much analysis in that regard; the bidders highlighted their red lines and Eir made a decision thereafter. It is important to have full transparency of the process at all times. That has contributed to the delay because we do not want to end up in a situation whereby something is done or a contract is awarded but then has to be nullified or stalled because of an issue with the process. It is very important that everything is above board and that there is due process and transparency.It was not as though we could prevent commercial operators from operating during the recent period while we prepared a map to provide certainty about the areas, houses, farms and premises that need to be connected. Commercial investment was taking place at all stages while we were trying to finalise the map. During that time, Eir came in with the 300,000 houses and premises, which complicated the matter further. That was a commercial decision on the part of the company and the Government then had to make a decision. It signed a commitment contract with the company to ensure Eir stood by its commitment to connect the houses and take them out of the NBP.

The Minister had to attend a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on infrastructure, where no doubt this issue was discussed. We have had a number of debates on it in the other House. We understand and accept the frustrations of Members, and the importance of broadband for rural Ireland. That is why we are committed to ensuring that the contact is signed under the NBP, that the company carries out what is required of it, that all premises in the State have high speed broadband as soon as is practicable and that the State invests in the most rural areas to ensure no place is left out and will have the same opportunity as the most urban areas in the country and, indeed, the world have in respect of broadband provision.