Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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33. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has had discussions with the ESB regarding the potential use of the electrical grid network to deliver fibre broadband to homes as part of the national broadband plan; and the way in which the process would cater for such a possibility. [23964/18]

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 is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the Intervention Area. The National Broadband Plan State Intervention does not limit or prescribe the type of infrastructure that can be used for the purposes of the roll out. It encourages the re-use of existing infrastructure where appropriate, which is viewed as critical having regard to the need for efficiency, value for money and minimisation of any potential environmental impacts. This approach is consistent with the Broadband State Aid Guidelines.

While the selection of the most appropriate infrastructure to use as part of the rollout of the network is a matter for the Bidding Consortium, my Department continues to encourage engagement with infrastructure owners including ESB and those on the DCCAE Register of Infrastructure which is available at: .