Wasting public money

Madam, - The country is awash with money

Madam, - The country is awash with money. So who cares if an extra billion or two is spent completing recent projects? No one, it appears - especially if you happen to be a current government minister or senior civil servant.

Fintan O'Toole's litany of cost overruns (Opinion, March 8th) makes depressing and familiar reading and that is without even mentioning the Luas fiasco. Who takes responsibility for all these back-of-a-cigarette-pack estimates that ultimately bear no resemblance to the final cost? In the real world such ineptitude would result in a very quick collection of a P45, but performance standards and accountability are in short supply in Leinster House. - Yours, etc.,

JOHN BURNETT, Upper Kilmoney Road, Carrigaline, Co Cork.