State pays €132m to National Broadband Ireland despite six-month rollout delay

The committee heard that one of NBI’s main subcontractors had at one point 40% of its staff dedicated to the project absent either with Covid, or as close contacts of a positive case. File photo

The State has paid €132.3m to date to National Broadband Ireland, the body charged with delivery of the National Broadband Plan, despite the rollout being at least six months behind schedule.

The Public Accounts Committee today heard that one of the reasons the plan has been so delayed to date is that one of NBI’s main contractors, Kelly Group from the UK, “postponed” setting up an Irish operation.