Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the procurement procedures his Department has in place to ensure an open and transparent tender process in awarding the contract for the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39032/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I hope to commence the formal procurement process for the NBP towards the end of this year. This process will be an open and competitive one, conducted in accordance with Department of Finance and EU procurement frameworks. Furthermore, the current State Aid Guidelines governing investments in broadband markets contain detailed compliance obligations on all public bodies considering a market intervention.

In designing the detailed intervention strategy for the NBP as well as the subsequent procurement process and Request For Tender, my Department is cognisant of the need to fully comply with all of these State Aid requirements.