Conor Skehan: 'Why do so many things go wrong with public projects? Answer: they don't'

In Ireland, we are overly obsessed with failure instead of pointing to successes, writes Conor Skehan

Entrance to the Limerick tunnel

Conor Skehan

Real wisdom is not giving the right answer, but asking the right question instead. It's amazing how much time, effort and expense is expended in investigating cost overruns or delays of public projects.

Perhaps investigations are necessary to "learn lessons and avoid future mistakes". Perhaps they provide the instant gratification of being seen to do something in a time of crisis. Investigations may even be the modern equivalent of a public hanging - combining schadenfreude with feelings of justifiable superiority and righteousness.

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