It is “utterly unbelievable” that Cork City Council does not have a list of what monuments it owns or where they all are, according to a local councillor.

Fianna Fáil representative Ken O'Flynn said this “shocked and saddened” him. 

“The acting Chief Executive informed us that he doesn't have the money to do a stock check. This leads to serious questions about how the city is being managed at present,” he said.

“If they're not willing to protect our past, how can they be trusted with our future?” 

The issue was raised this week at the most recent meeting of Cork City Council after Cllr O'Flynn submitted a question.

He asked the council to supply a full list of inventory that it possesses in relation to fountains, statues and other items of a similar nature.

In response, he was told that no such inventory exists.

Cllr O'Flynn initially raised the issue after questions were raised regarding the whereabouts of a missing antique fountain which once stood at the end of Shandon Street.

The Dunscombe Testimonial Fountain was gifted to the city by the family of the same name in the late nineteenth century.

However, city officials previously confirmed they have no idea about the current location of the antique fountain and gas light.

"It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious," Mr O'Flynn said at the time.

"The fact that there is no record available of the whereabouts of this fountain begs serious questions about the management of this city. It is absolutely unacceptable that management has taken such a flippant attitude towards it."

He said that this latest situation shows the city is not “operating to standard and best practices”.