Bruton will not confirm whether broadband bidders will put up between €300m and €400m of the €3bn bill

The Communications Minister has also refused to say how much of the €5bn broadband rollout cost will be footed by rural homeowners and businesses.

Communications Minister Richard Bruton has refused to deny or confirm whether the bidders for the costly rural broadband plan will only put up between €300m and €400m.

Criticism continues over the State's €3bn bill for the seven-year project and there are questions about how much the McCourt-led group will invest initially in the plan to connect 540,000 premises.