Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To some degree the earlier question from Deputy Stanley covers the Deputy's points.

The original cost-benefit analysis was commissioned in 2015 under the terms of the public spending code and has been published. This was updated over the past four years and the finalised cost-benefit analysis was published earlier this month.

This was done after detailed evaluation and engagement with the bidders. The cost–benefit analysis was carefully scrutinised before it was published.

Regarding the investment by the bidder in the national broadband plan, this will be in tranches in the initial years of deployment when capital costs are highest. While the subsidy to be invested by the State is capped, the bidder's equity will be invested ahead of Government subsidies, thereby placing the bidder's investment at risk first. There are separate subsidies to cover the costs of passing, and then connecting, rural homes. These are paid retrospectively and only on independent verification of the achievement of milestones set out in the contract. The bidder will also bear the risk of additional equity injection requirements over the life of the project if some of those projections are wrong. As I indicated to Deputy Dooley, the commitment of the equity will be dealt with in the detailed contracts that are now being drawn up.

See this speech in context