The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has revealed that the overall cost of the National Broadband Plan could eventually cost in the region of €3bn.
Speaking before the Dail during Leaders Question Time, this afternoon, the Taoiseach said the cost of the plan could eventually hit €3bn over the course of 25 years.
Varadkar who has recently defended the plan, also told the Dail that the Government remains committed to the project although any final decision will not be rushed.
Responding to Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald’s criticism of persistent delays of the project, the Taoiseach said that the delays were necessary as the Government want to get it right in terms of tendering the project.
Although the Taoiseach admitted that the final cost of the overall project are much higher than originally projected, he defended the latest estimate as the project is on a much larger scale than originally planned.
However despite his support for the project, Mr Varadkar faced stern criticism from Ms McDonald who questioned the Government’s lackadaisical approach to the project.
Ms McDonald also claimed that the project is running down a simillar path to that of the National Children’s Hospital which has a scandalous cost over run.
The Sinn Fein leader added that both the Taoiseach and the Government should their own set view when it comes to the affordability of the project.