The overall cost of the National Broadband Plan could cost in the region of €3bn Sinn Féin have claimed.
In a stark claim Sinn Féin deputy Pearse Doherty told an Oireachtas Committee on Finance, that the project could significantly more than the Government previously estimated.
Mr Doherty’s comments come after the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had previously stated that the project will cost multiples more than the €500m originally estimated.
Although the Taoiseach defended the cost stating that it was entirely different than the National Children’s Hospital given that the project will be spread out over 30 years and had a different financial model.
However some concerns have been issued in the Dáil by opposition parties including Fianna Fáil, who have questioned the Government’s handling of the project.
Fianna Fáil say they are concerned that the government is already running up costs given that €22m has been spent without any fibre cables being laid.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin claim that an overrun has occurred given that the government has underestimated its overall cost already.
However the Taoiseach has defended the Government’s handling of the project, by stating that the Government is still in the process of agreeing a contract with one potential bidder.
Before adding that the project hadn’t even begun.