Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the impact on the national development plan if the tendering process for the national broadband plan is cancelled and an alternative roll-out plan is initiated; the amount of extra resources that would be required for the national broadband plan; the body the savings would be obtained from within the national development plan resource allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47907/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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It would not be appropriate to comment or speculate on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) at this juncture in advance of the Government having considered the matter.

The  Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is currently evaluating the final tender received under the existing procurement process.

Separately, the Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement, to review the process.  Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Mr Smyth's review is taking place in parallel with the evaluation being carried out by that Department’s procurement team on the final tender mentioned above.