One of the consequences of the crash in Irish capitalism has been the emergence of ghost estates, half-finished, often less than half-occupied housing estates fairly evenly distributed throughout the country. Some of these were particularly badly hit by flooding back in November when it emerged that they were built on flood plains or close to blocked culverts.

Obviously in the latter cases the local planning authorities are at fault for granting planning permission in the first instance, however questions must be asked (as ever) regarding the links between the developers, the banks and of course the politicians. Strangely enough, the architects are keeping themselves well out of the frame, along with the legal fraternity. As for the archaeologists, well there several such estates which should have attracted planning conditions but went ahead anyway. Archaeology is very expensive you know, and when money has to be made...