Below is a reply by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to a Parliamentary Question I tabled in Dáil Éireann regarding the Eir proposal in relation to the provision of Broadband nationally.

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For Written Answer on : 02/07/2019
Question Number(s): 548,549,568,571 Question Reference(s): 27988/19, 27989/19, 28019/19, 28184/19
Department: Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Asked by: Barry Cowen T.D., Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION

[Ref No: 28184/19]

*  To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has considered the recent proposal by a company (details supplied) in relation to the provision of broadband nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.　 – Brendan Smith.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019.　 Eir

(919  Received on 26th June, 2019.)

Transferred from Public Expenditure and Reform

REPLY
I propose to take Question Nos 548, 549, 568 and 571 together.

I would like in the first instance to clarify that eir has made no formal proposal to Government to replace or supersede the National Broadband Plan.

At its appearance at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, eir’s CEO outlined eir’s view on the value for money of the NBP. eir’s CEO made certain observations with regard to eir’s own model for delivery of rural broadband, which could only be delivered outside of the current procurement process. My Department requested a detailed outline from eir setting out the assumptions made and the financial model underpinning eir’s assumptions. eir provided further information to my Department at close of business on Friday 28 June and my Department and its NBP advisers are currently analysing this information.