‘Shovel-ready’ should mean fully planned Taxpayer could end up as the turkey

As politicians don the hard hats to announce a slew of capital projects, Kyran Fitzgerald says we can learn from international research how not to repeat the notorious cost overruns of the past.

Politicians are partial to projects that are shovel-ready. They like nothing more than to be pictured with hard hats on their heads.

Now, it seems we will soon be witnessing helmeted ministers clutching spades at photo calls.