The consortium developing the State’s multibillion-euro national broadband project has been accused of “bringing nothing” to the plan amid claims a separate company is part-funding its investment.

The largest broadband intervention yet by the State could run into legal difficulty and face significant delays. The Government’s National Broadband Plan which intends to deliver high-speed broadband to 750,000 homes and businesses by 2020 is expected to cost up to €500m to implement.