Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the value for money review on the metropolitan area networks will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14795/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Value for Money and Policy Reviews are carried out by Departments on Exchequer spending in the context of the Public Service Management Act 1997 and the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. The objectives of a Value for Money and Policy Review are to analyse Exchequer spending in a systematic manner and to provide a basis on which informed decisions can be made. It is one of a range of modernisation initiatives aimed at moving public sector management away from the traditional focus on measuring inputs to a more holistic perspective, examining the effectiveness with which interventions operate. A Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme is currently being finalised in my Department. Additionally, a policy paper on Next Generation Broadband is also being finalised. Both reports, which I intend to publish simultaneously in the coming weeks, will help to inform future decisions in this area.