Questions to be Answered Over “Hanging Garden” Nugent

Questions to be Answered Over “Hanging Garden” -Nugent

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent has said there are many questions to be answered over the garden commissioned by the city council from Diarmiud Gavin.

Cllr Nugent said:

“The revelations in the media this weekend about the cost of the “hanging garden” commissioned by Cork City Council from celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin are frankly incredible. At a time of severe cutbacks in council services, people will justifiably be asking many questions around this project.”

“Firstly there is the issue of what this garden will actually cost the council, including its ongoing maintenance in the future. There appear to be several contradictory accounts of the cost and it is important that council officials give a clear and detailed breakdown of the final bill.”

“Secondly there is the issue of how this project was authorised and why it has only come into the public domain now.”

“I also have questions around the circumstances of the alleged intervention by Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar. It was suggested in the media over the weekend that when city officials were expressing reservations over the project Minister Varadkar stepped in and shortly after it received the go-ahead. I would like to know if this is the case and, if so, what was the nature of Minister Varadkar’s intervention with the city council.”

“Overall, this episode raises serious questions over how money is spent by the council and about transparency and accountability in its budgetary procedures.”

For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793