Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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563. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of the €34.756 million, included under the total programme expenditure for communications in his Department's 2016 Estimate, that will be allocated specifically to the national broadband plan in 2016; if supplementary funding is being allocated to this plan; if so, the total amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39203/15]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion to be spent in 2016 from the moneys allocated under the infrastructure and capital investment plan 2016 to 2021 on the national broadband plan; if he will provide a breakdown in National Exchequer and European funding in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39204/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 564 together.

The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

On 29 September the Government agreed and published its 6 year Capital Plan, Building on Recovery, which included an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan. This will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention.

Funding of €75m is also committed through the European Regional Development Fund but this can only be drawn down after Exchequer expenditure is first incurred.

Combined with commercial investment, this will ensure that 85% of Ireland's premises have high speed broadband by 2018, with 100% coverage by 2020.

Because a competitive procurement process is anticipated, it would be neither advisable nor appropriate to speculate about the potential overall cost of the NBP at this stage. Ultimately, the outcome of the procurement process will determine the final cost of the intervention. I hope to commence the procurement process before the end of this year. Progress on the project and the outcome of the procurement process will influence the quantum of exchequer funding that will be expended on the NBP in 2016.