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

I will not enter into a public dispute with the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. He scrutinised the figure of 30%, concerning benefits being greater than costs, and challenged the benefits, as is his job. The cost–benefit analysis was robust, however, and it showed the figure was verifiable. The other point I would make to the Deputy is one that is intuitively understood. The assumptions underpinning the cost–benefit analysis were extremely conservative. For example, it was assumed that 4% of white-collar workers in the area would take up remote working. We all know that considerable transformation is happening. The assumptions ignored the benefits of digital education or digital health. We are all aware that technology is coming and the broadband connectivity can allow people to participate remotely in health monitoring and education, which will transform both businesses, homes and participation.

A major part of the reason we are doing this is not just the static benefits one can measure today that are accounted for in a cost–benefit analysis; there is also the belief that digital transformation will be crucial to fair participation by people in rural areas in enjoying the benefits all of us will enjoy.

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