Minister of State with Responsibility for the Office of Public Works Kieran O’Donnell has asked officials to carry out a full review of the cost of building the structure for use by TDs, staff and visitors on the historically sensitive grounds.
As he arrived for a Cabinet meeting this morning, Taoiseach Simon Harris said everybody can see the benefit of having somewhere to park a bike in the workplace.
“People get that. What they don’t get is the extraordinary sum of money that this has cost, and I don’t either quite frankly,” he told reporters.
“I think it is inexcusable and inexplicable. I welcome the fact that my colleague, the minister, has now demanded answers in relation to this, and I await that. But this is the sort of thing that rightly angers and annoys people, and it angers and annoys me as well, because, yes, workplaces should provide somewhere to park a bike, but they shouldn’t do it in a manner that is lavish or extortionate in relation to the public purse,” he added.
That view was shared by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who said the cost “seems like an astronomical amount for what is essentially a bike shed”.
“It does seem like an astronomical amount and I think everyone wants to understand how it could have happened,” Minister McEntee added.
Also commenting on the matter, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said it was an incredible cost for what is “a mere bike shelter”
The political director of the Labour Party has identified the sole bike spotted in TV coverage of the controversy as his, and said it is not even properly sheltered.
Cathal McCann tweeted on Monday night: “My bike was enjoying its new deluxe home in Leinster House until it was plastered all over @rtenews this evening.
“In all seriousness though it’s not even properly sheltered, so no idea how it cost €335k even if it included other groundworks or the e-car chargers beside it?”
Mr McCann added: “What most of us who cycle into LH have been asking for over many yrs are bike stands located beside or close to the entrances, preferably covered.
“Instead we got a white elephant that will damage the cause of trying to deliver active travel infrastructure across the country.”
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Yesterday, the Taoiseach and the Transport Minister both said that the public should get value for money as it emerged the Office for Public Works (OPW) spent €336,000 on building the bike shelter to store 18 bikes.
The shelter, which was initially hailed by the Green Party minister Eamon Ryan as a good example of public sector climate action, required archaeological advice to make sure it fit in at the parliamentary complex.
Mr Ryan said on Monday he looks forward to hearing from the OPW why the shelter cost so much, saying it seemed “incredibly expensive”.
Asked about the cost of the bike shelter on Monday, the Taoiseach said: “I’ve no knowledge or information about the bike shed, but I think it’s very important that public money is very carefully spent.
“It would obviously be a matter for the Oireachtas rather than Government.”
A breakdown of costs from the OPW shows that €322,282 was spent on the main construction and installation project.
A further €2,952 was spent on archaeological services while €10,816 was paid for quantity surveying services and “contract administration services”.
The huge bill has raised eyebrows in Leinster House, but the OPW said a high-quality structure was needed because of its sensitive location.
Asked for a copy of the business case for the project, the OPW said none had been needed.
In an information note, they said: “The work referred to was carried out… as part of the ongoing essential maintenance and upgrade works that are undertaken within the Leinster House Complex and other OPW-owned buildings.
“This is one of the core functions and responsibilities of OPW and to this end there is a continuous programme of essential fabric and upgrade works identified by the OPW team responsible for the complex, working with Oireachtas Facilities,” the OPW said.
Asked for a copy of the scoping documents involved in the work, the Office of Public Works refused to provide them.
It said these had been prepared as part of a planning application and could not be released for “security reasons”.
The stand was built with a special cantilevered canopy that is designed to protect from the prevailing northerly winds.
It has not been fully enclosed, however, with some believing it leaves their bikes too exposed to the elements.
In July, it emerged that Labour leader Ivana Bacik had pushed for new bike shelters at Leinster House.
However, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl replied to say it was “extremely unlikely” that planning permission would be provided and that the existing facilities were underused.
The new bike shed had been welcomed by Mr Ryan back in April as construction was under way.
He said: “It’s an example of the type of changes taking place right across the public service, as part of the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate.”
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan. Photo: Frank McGrath
Questioned by reporters on Monday as the bill emerged, Mr Ryan said the cost to store 18 bikes seemed “incredibly expensive”.
“I look forward to listening to the OPW and talking to the OPW as to why it was so expensive,” he said.
“They [may] have their own reasons, but I must admit I was shocked when I saw the price, we need to do things cheaper than that all over the country.”
The minister said the Government has to show “we spend public money wisely and that sort of cost seems to be very, very high”.
Asked about the costs involved, a spokeswoman for the OPW said: “The bicycle shelter is a new structure located within the setting of Leinster House, a protected structure of national importance.
“In response to the character of the historic setting a well-designed structure with an appropriate use of high-quality materials and finish were required.”
In a statement this Tuesday morning to the Irish Independent, The Office of Public Works said it “acknowledges the recent discussions in relation to the costs associated with the construction of a bicycle shelter in Leinster House”.
In May 2021, the OPW said it was requested by the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas to “provide a visible, covered bicycle shelter” for the Houses of the Oireachtas on Leinster Lawn (on the Merrion Square side of the complex).
“The project was procured via a framework agreement and complies with public procurement and planning guidelines. The project cost €336,000 inclusive of VAT,” the spokesperson for the OPW said.
Revealing the breakdown of the costs associated with the shed, the OPW said approximately €1,968 was spent on a monitoring report and €492 on a licence application and method, with a further €492 spent on archaeological monitoring.
Its construction and installation cost €283,949.59.
The “re-charge VAT” cost €38,333.19 and contract admin services cost €10,816.52.
The spokesperson added: “We recognise the importance of ensuring that public money is spent transparently. Located within the setting of Leinster House, a protected structure of national importance, the construction of the bike shelter involved several unique challenges.
“The structure consists of a steel framed, glazed canopy to ensure long term durability. The materials used, including Irish granite, glass and steel were carefully selected not only for their durability, but also for their compatibility with the historic setting of our national parliament.
“The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kieran O’Donnell, TD, has requested his officials to carry out an immediate full review of the project.”
