Following a competitive tendering process, I appointed 3 – a Hutchison Whampoa Company – as the company to deliver the National Broadband Scheme in Ireland.

The €223 million National Broadband Scheme will create 170 jobs and bring broadband services to almost 230000 premises or the remaining one-third of the country without access. As progress is made, speeds will improve. Work is already underway in four areas around the country, and customers in areas to be served by the Scheme can keep track on progress www.three.ie/NBS.

3 Ireland has a number of contractual targets to meet and my Department will closely monitor their progress.

See the press release at:http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Government+announces+scheme+to+deliver+broadband+across+Ireland.htm and video footage from the press conference on my YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MThoczfIwa8