Departments rapped over music school

TWO Government departments were criticised yesterday by the State financial watchdog for failing properly to manage the Cork School of Music project.

The controversial Public Private Partnership project (PPP) which has been delayed for more than five years, was finally given the all-clear to proceed in March but will not be completed on time for Cork's position as European capital of culture next year.

Speaking before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell said he had “some concern about the way this project was managed”. In particular Mr Purcell criticised the manner in which the Department of Education and the Department of Finance had dealt with the project.