Written answers

Thursday, 14 February 2019

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

National Broadband Plan Expenditure

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

87. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the process in which information regarding the cost of the national broadband plan is communicated by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to his Department; and the mechanism by which oversight of increases in the cost are notified to his Department. [7647/19]

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

88. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his responsibilities regarding the cost of the national broadband plan. [7648/19]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

All public capital projects are subject to the provisions of the Department’s Public Spending Code. The Public Spending Code provides key principles as well as identifying a clear framework for the appraisal, planning and management of these capital projects. This includes the specification of the respective roles and responsibilities of the project Sponsoring Agency and project Sanctioning Authority.

In terms of the National Broadband Plan (NBP), the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is the designated Sponsoring Agency and is responsible for the proper appraisal, planning and management of the plan, including the tendering process for the State intervention network.

Under the Public Spending Code, the Government is the Sanctioning Authority for the NBP. It is the Government which will be responsible for making a final decision on whether or not to proceed with the bid under the current tendering process, having considered, in due course, the recommendation of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, when Exchequer monies are being sought for capital projects, I consider proposals in terms of affordability, value for money, costs and the potential impact on existing capital allocations.

In terms of information, my Department has been kept apprised on the NBP procurement process through meetings with officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (and their advisers as appropriate), submissions and presentations, as well as the submission of Cost Benefit Analysis Reports.

The above engagements between my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment have, naturally, included the issue of cost estimates and changes thereto. My Department has conveyed its views on these estimates to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. My Department has also commented on methodologies applied in the Cost Benefit Analysis Reports.

I have also discussed the NBP with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and with his predecessor.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.