Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has an alternative model for the national broadband plan if the tender process cannot find a feasible bidder. [53126/18]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his alternative plans for rural broadband in the event that the one remaining bidder is found to be not fit by the procurement process team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53176/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 105 together.

The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department will conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks.

I do not propose to speculate on the outcome of the ongoing assessment, which I would ask be given the necessary time to conclude.