Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the winning consultants for the national broadband plan have met the turnover requirement in section 3.2A of the request for tenders; the additional documentation he has sought from them in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24846/13]

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied), the winning consultants for the national broadband plan, will be subcontracting any element of the work; if so, the subcontractors involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24847/13]

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will publish the brief and assumptions under which the consultants to the national broadband plan will be asked to carry out a cost benefit analysis of the plan as required in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Public Spending Code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24848/13]

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of concerns regarding administrative delays in receiving EU State aid approval for the national broadband plan, he has notified the commission in relation to this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24849/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 121, inclusive, together.

The winning consultants, referred to by the Deputy, have been awarded the contract by my Department to provide specific advisory services relating to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan on foot of a competitive tendering process. Within this process, the necessary qualification criteria, including documentary evidence requirements have been met.

The winning consultants will provide technical, commercial, economic, financial and procurement advisory services relating to the design, planning and procurement of the State-led investment in areas where high speed services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market. The advice and assistance sought by my Department is specified in its request for tender, which is publicly available on . The subcontracting of any element of the advisory services to be delivered is not envisaged.

The EU Commission has been informed of the publication of Ireland's National Broadband Plan to facilitate the achievement of high speed broadband targets, as required under the Digital Agenda for Europe. The formal national mapping exercise to inform the level of Government intervention that may be required will form a critical input to the related EU State Aids application. This mapping exercise has yet to be completed.

In addition, a cost benefit analysis, as required under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Public Spending Code will be undertaken prior to any procurement process being launched. Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, we are committed to increasing the availability of next generation speeds significantly, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.