Cork County Council is being called upon to explain why new signage for the tourist town of Bantry is costing €670,000.
Local councillor Danny Collins said locals are very angry by reports that the Bantry Destination Town Project has cost so much.
The project saw the removal of a bus shelter in the town square and its replacement with a new stainless-steel information portal as well as 22 other new signs.
Mr Collins said he is very concerned by the amount and wants a detailed breakdown of the project from the local authority.
"I know for a fact that it wasn't for the one sign in the square, but is part of a bigger project so I want to clarify everything and that's why I have put in a motion (to next week's municipal meeting) calling for this information," Mr Collins said.
The cost of the project was first highlighted by the Southern Star newspaper who quoted locals as describing the project, and the new portal in particular, as "wanton waste" and a "waste of taxpayers' money".
However, Cork County Council has defended the overall project saying the €670,000 was for the entire Destination Towns Programme and not for a single sign.
In a statement, the local authority said that Fáilte Ireland paid €500,000 of the cost, with the Council matching funding by 25%.
The town was chosen as part of a national scheme given its strategic importance as a tourist destination.
The new tourism signage targets cruise and ferry visitors.
The project involved the removal of 20 existing signs; improving seating and street furniture; lighting and paving; and erecting new stainless-steel signs, the Council said.
These include one large stainless-steel portal on Wolfe Tone Square, six totem signs, eight lectern structures and eight directional fingerpost signs at key locations around the town.
