Irish Examiner view: A suspicious gaze falls on wasteful public spending

Administrators must ready themselves for permanent challenges over spending

An information signs at the Abbey Graveyard, Bantry. Cork County Council’s senior executive officer Nicola Radley has had to explain that a total of 23 new structures and information boards are being erected in Bantry and that 75% of the cost is being met by Fáilte Ireland. Picture: Andy Gibson

We have commented on the eyebrow-raising case of the €7m Arts Council IT system that never was, and how it has followed a litany of financial farragoes ranging from mismanagement at RTÉ to high-end bike sheds.

Now, providing another reminder that ultimately all politics is local, Cork County Council has had to react after reports were spreading that one new, tourist-attracting sign in Bantry was costing €670,000.