Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the €435 million allocated in the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 to the communications and broadband programme refers exclusively to Exchequer funding; if he will provide a breakdown of this figure; if the cost of MANs phases 1 or 2 is included in this figure; if he will provide an indicative estimate of the cost of MANs phase 3; and if this cost is included in this figure. [32099/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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An indicative €435 million of Exchequer funds has been provided for the Communications and Broadband Programme in the 2007-2013 National Development Plan (NDP). €35 million has been spent to date on broadband initiatives during 2007 including Phase II of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme and the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). It is anticipated that the full €435 million will be fully utilised over the lifetime of the NDP. It is not possible at this stage to give a detailed breakdown of the approximately €400 million that remains to be allocated over the period of the Plan. Some of this allocation will be expended in the NBS and commitments under Phase II of the MANs.

My Department is currently undertaking a Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the MANs programme. This review will help to inform decisions on the future allocation of the NDP envelope for broadband infrastructure.