Tánaiste Micheál Martin has described the €1.4 million spend on a security office at the south gate entrance to Government Buildings adjacent to the Department of Finance as “ridiculous”.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Martin said he was “shocked” when he first heard the cost of the project this morning.
He said the €1.4m security office, the €336,000 bike shelter, and other matters are a genuine cause of concern.
“I was shocked to hear that figure this morning, it’s ridiculous. There’s no need for that level of expenditure,” the Tánaiste said.
“I think we need a fundamental review now of what’s happening there, and full transparency in front of the Oireachtas in terms of the actual breakdown of costs, that does seem shocking in terms of what is there to cost that much money,” he said.
Asked if he was worried there could be a wider problem with significant spending on projects, Mr Martin said: “The Comptroller and Auditor General is there to oversee Government expenditure and I’ve no doubt the C&AG also oversees and can do reports on OPW expenditure.
“On the credit side some very good stuff has been done by the OPW over the years. But this is serious and there needs to be an examination of this and a review of this.”
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At the Oireachtas Finance Committee this morning, chairman of the OPW John Conlon revealed the figure while answering questions on the cost of the contentious bike shelter.
Mr Conlon said the installation of the security office followed an extensive consultation with gardaí and included significant mechanical, electrical and security considerations.
He said there were also significant underground, ventilation, CCTV and other costs “there was a huge security element,” he said. The total cost stood at €1.429m.
He said there were also significant underground, ventilation, CCTV and other costs. “There was a huge security element,” he said.
Asked by Green Party TD Steven Matthews who signed off on that cost, Mr Conlon said it would have been signed off at Assistant Secretary level in the OPW, rather than by the Minister in charge.
Speaking about the security office in New York, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that he “can’t know enough about the rationale as to why such a level of expenditure was required and what security specifications may or may not have been required”.
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“I think it’s very important that the OPW satisfies itself and most importantly satisfies the Oireachtas and the people of Ireland that appropriate safeguards are in place in ensuring that they get value for money in relation to such expenditure.
“Of course, projects need to be carried out for security reasons from time to time. Security is extraordinarily important, but also making sure that happens within in the context of value for money is an absolute imperative,” he said.
Earlier it emerged that the OPW told authorities in Leinster House three years ago that installing uncovered bicycle parking outside the Member’s Restaurant would have been a cost-effective option.
The revelation is contained in a report published this morning on the controversial €336,000 covered bike shelter.
However, the option presented to the Oireachtas Commission in April 2021 was not acceptable following security advice.
The OPW believed that the positives of this option included the fact that it would be “out of sight” and not impact on listed buildings.
It also felt that while it would require operational changes relating to security, these “were not insurmountable”.
The report compiled by Mr Conlon said the Oireachtas Commission asked that additional covered bicycle parking be provided on the Merrion Square side of Leinster House, “as close to Leinster House as possible”.
Commenting on the final cost of the bike shelter at that location, Mr Conlon wrote that he was concerned that the level of expenditure was not consistent with the scale of the project.
The breakdown of costs shows that the supply, manufacture and installation of the steel bike structure was €121,194.29.
Drainage and resurfacing works totalled €52,886.84 while the supply and installation of the granite landscaping came to €44,940.
Mr Conlon is among representatives of the OPW who are before the Oireachtas Finance Committee this afternoon where the matter is being discussed.
He has said he accepts that the cost of the bike shelter was “extraordinary.”
He said he has revised downwards the project approval thresholds and will ensure members of the Management Board will approve all works above €200,000.
Mr Conlon said he has engaged an external auditor to provide advice on how to ensure value for money for projects below half a million euros.
Addressing other matters, Mr Conlon said “the OPW is leading a proactive, whole of Government approach to managing flood risk across three areas covering, prevention, protection and preparedness.”
“The Government has committed €1.3 billion over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to protect approximately 23,000 homes and businesses in communities under threat from river and coastal flood risk.”
“Nationally, 55 schemes have been completed at a cost of some €550m, which are providing protection to over 13,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated at €2 billion.”
Additional reporting Juliette Gash and Mícheál Lehane
