Councillors in Limerick have been criticised over proposals for a trip to the Far East, to be funded by the taxpayer.
Plans for the visit to China were arranged by sitting councillors before the local elections in June.
Six members of Limerick County Council and two local authority officials are due to travel next month.
However, the Fine Gael leader in the council, Cllr Patrick O'Donovan, said he had been unable to get information about the purpose of the trip, which was proposed by the last council before the June local elections.
Many councillors could not be contacted for comment yesterday as 12 are on an all-expenses paid visit to Germany as part of a twinning process between Limerick County Council and German counterparts .
"I can't even get hedges cut in Newcastlewest because of a lack of money, yet there seems to be plenty of money for a visit to the far side of the world," said Cllr O'Donovan.