Nearly €18 million euro has been spent on the Central Access Scheme in Kilkenny so far.
Councillors were briefed yesterday on the costings so far at a pre-budget workshop.
The final figure wont be available until the end of the year but the cost to date has reached €17,847,316.
The Council has previously indicated that the delays to the project as a result of protests had a significant impact on the price.
However, Independent Councillor Breda Gardner says she thinks the local authority has to take responsibility for the cost:
“If you build something and spend that amount of money on it the council have to say, ‘yes we take responsibility for it,’ but I don’t like passing blame. That is why I’m angry.
“When I hear the executives and some other councillors being puppy dogs to the executives saying, ‘Oh read this out. Get this out in the media that the protesters are the cause of the €2.6 million.’
“But we forget also that the original cost was €2.4 million and it was accepted and agreed by councillors and executives at the time.”
