Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cowen is making many assumptions regarding how this project is going to develop and those assumptions have yet to be tested. The Deputy's view is underpinned by an assumption that I am not aware or not involved in what the cost of this process will be or decisions that will be made regarding it. I am actively involved in all of that. I have laid out what the process is to the Deputy and I think it is an understandable one. My Department is involved in the cost benefit analysis and the estimation of costs at the start of the project. My Department will also be involved if there are any developments regarding the cost benefit analysis. The key difficulty regarding the national children's hospital project was the development in the cost and complexity of the project.

Regarding where we are with the broadband plan, it is fair to say the complexity and challenge in delivering the project has been identified in an exhaustive tendering process.

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