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

There has been much talk about the projected take-up. As the Deputy knows, it is projected that 80% of those passed will take up the service by the end of this project. Existing information says that where it is available on a fixed line, the take-up of high-speed broadband is already at 65%. We have no reason to believe that take-up in rural Ireland will be lower. Our cost-benefit analysis assumes that farmers would take it up at a rate of just 20%. That is quite unrealistic.

If it turns out to be less than projected, it will be solely the contractor's equity which is at risk. If those targets are exceeded, the State will recoup 60% of the extra profits. This model is designed to ensure that the State shares in the benefits and carries a capped risk. This approach has been worked out as the best way of protecting the State while creating an incentive for the operator to continue to invest, upgrade and future-proof the network. That evaluation was made at the very start of the project. The Deputy can see why that advice came to the Government. When he reads and scrutinises it in the committee, he will see that it is robust.

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