Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the €15 million allocated to the national broadband plan as outlined in budget 2018; if the figure has increased or is likely to increase in 2018; the amount of the allocation that has been spent; the way in which the moneys were spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24222/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. 

My Department has an allocation of €15 million in 2018 for the NBP.  Expenditure to date in 2018 is €2.882m. This expenditure principally relates to the cost of acquiring external expertise to support the procurement process for the NBP State Intervention. 

The NBP procurement process is complex and is supported by a specialist team including external expertise and advisors.  These include a range of national and international experts with commercial, economic, environmental, financial, insurance, legal, procurement, state aid, tax and technical, expertise and experience. The procurement process is now in the final stages.