Written answers

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

National Broadband Plan

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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777. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost of not signing the contract for the national broadband plan to remunerate the preferred bidder; if he has received legal advice on the exposure of the State to legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31297/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In advance of contracts being signed with the Preferred Bidder, the Department is legally entitled to discontinue the procurement process at any time. In circumstances where there is an ongoing procurement process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.The Department has access to legal advice in relation to all aspects of the NBP procurement process.

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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778. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has met with a person (details supplied); if the national broadband plan was discussed at those meetings; when the meetings took place; the context in which the plan was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31298/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I have not met with the individual named in the Deputy's question

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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779. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the requirements of the national broadband plan which are in place to avoid duplication of infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31300/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In line with State Aid Guidelines, the solution proposed by the successful Bidder was based on the maximum reuse of existing infrastructure to the greatest extent possible to minimise costs and reduce potential environmental impacts.  The final tender submitted by the bidder proposes the reuse of a combination of private infrastructure, such as eir's regulated infrastructure, and State owned infrastructure, such as the MANs and potentially the ESB, to deliver its solution.  New infrastructure may be deployed where it is not possible to use existing infrastructure, or where no infrastructure exists and where it is more effective and cost efficient to use alternative solutions.

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