Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
184. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount which has been paid to a company (details supplied) by the national broadband scheme for use of their poles, ducting and infrastructure in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3424/26]
View answerIn December 2022, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy was published which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and set out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a major infrastructure project that is delivering high-speed, reliable digital connectivity to all premises in Ireland where commercial operators are not providing a service.
This is a key priority for Government and a core element of the Digital Connectivity Strategy.
The delivery of the NBP network by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) relies on the use of existing telecommunications infrastructure, including the use of significant volumes of poles and ducts from eir.
Total infrastructure rental costs are forecasted to be approximately €900 million over the life of the project. This figure encompasses payments to several infrastructure providers, including the company referred to in the question. The prices charged by infrastructure providers to NBII are primarily regulated prices for the rental of poles and ducts. However, the specific annual amounts paid to individual companies for the use of poles and ducting are commercially sensitive and governed by private contractual agreements. Consequently, these individual payment details cannot be disclosed.
