Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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531. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the rationale for the continuation of a review (details supplied) of the national broadband plan and the tendering process in parallel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43360/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The conclusion of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention procurement process and delivery of high speed broadband is a priority commitment for this Government.

On 17 October 2018, the Taoiseach requested a report from the NBP process auditor to be presented within three weeks. The terms of reference for this report specify that the process auditor is not required to consider any substantive issues relating to the bid submitted by the bidder in the NBP procurement process. The focus of that report is separate to and independent of the evaluation of the final tender received from the remaining bidder on 18 September. Accordingly, the evaluation of that final tender by the NBP Evaluation Team, which commenced in September, is continuing in parallel.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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532. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of all meetings which took place between representatives of the national broadband plan tender team and bid teams; the issues discussed; if he will release the minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43361/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In reply to Question No. 248 on 18 October, to the House last week, with respect to the nature of the "Competitive Dialogue" procedure used in the NBP Procurement process, I described the confidential nature of the process and indicated that it is not proposed to publish details of meetings held as part of an on-going procurement process. Maintaining confidentiality is necessary and normal practice to protect the integrity of procurement processes.