Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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454. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the initial outlay planned for infrastructure and capital Investment 2016 to 2021 for the national broadband plan; if any moneys in the allocation of €275 million contain funding sourced from the European Regional Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35800/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State.

Section 7.5 of the draft intervention strategy which I published for public consultation on 15 July last deals in some detail with issues related to project costs.

On 29 September last, the Government approved an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) which will provide the initial stimulus for the early years of the State intervention.

The €275 million allocated to the NBP does not represent the full cost of the programme. The contract will require the delivery of the full network by 2020, plus its operation for a much longer period. The exact amount of funding required will ultimately be determined by a competitive procurement process.

The State contribution towards the cost of delivery may be achieved through a combination of Exchequer and other sources, including the European Investment Bank. State expenditure of €150m is required before the €75m under the European Regional Development Fund can be drawn down.