Sir, – Last Saturday, David McWilliams wrote about the State’s inability to adequately track public spending from procurement through to payment and outcome (“There’s a reason the State gets away with wasting so much of our money,” July 25th). Two days later, we learn that senior Coalition figures believe MetroLink could cost as much as €19 billion.The timing could hardly be more relevant.This is not an argument against MetroLink. It is a question of whether the public can reasonably be expected to trust the State with another project of this extraordinary scale?The national children’s hospital project has seriously damaged that trust. Successive governments have attempted to deal with escalating costs, delays, and disputes surrounding the project. Years later, the final financial consequences are still being worked through.Yet we are now considering a €19 billion transport project while the fundamental issue of accountability for public expenditure remains unresolved.And €19 billion cannot be considered in isolation.Ireland is dealing with a housing and homelessness crisis, severe cost of living pressures and essential services across health, child protection, housing, etc are under strain. We are also living through considerable global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.Does the Government genuinely believe Ireland has the financial resilience to commit to a project of this magnitude while maintaining the capacity to deal with existing pressures and whatever crisis may come next?Yes, Ireland needs infrastructure and long-term ambition. But before asking the public to support another enormous State project, the Government must first restore confidence in its ability to control and account for public money.After the national children’s hospital, taxpayers are entitled to ask a simple question:If MetroLink is being discussed at €19 billion today, what assurance do we have that it will still be €19 billion tomorrow? -Yours, etc.MANDY WILLIAMS,Clonskeagh,Dublin 14.