By Cate McCurry and Cillian Sherlock, PA
The final cost of the Leinster House bike shed is likely to rise to allow for the completion of the power and charging facilities for electric bikes (e-bikes), a committee has heard.
Officials from the Office of Public Works (OPW) appeared before the Oireachtas Finance Committee to answer questions about the high costs of the bike shelter.
The OPW has come under scrutiny for spending €336,000 on the glass-covered shelter, located on the grounds of Leinster House.
A breakdown of the costs from the OPW shows €121,194.29 alone was spent on manufacturing, supply and installation.
The chair of the OPW, John Conlon, said that cost of the bike shed is “completely not acceptable”, adding that the OPW will “seriously reflect” on the “extraordinary cost” of building the shelter.
The original specification for the bike shelter, which can store 36 bikes, included e-bike charging points. However, the points are not yet in operation.
During the committee hearing, Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty asked the chair whether he believes the bike shed was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Mr Conlon said that the construction of the bike shelter came “at a very expensive cost”.
“I don’t accept it was a waste of taxpayers’ money. I do accept it was very, very expensive,” the chair added.
Aontú leader Peadar Toibin told the committee that the issue of the cost of the bike shed is “not unique”.
“The bike shed, the Gucci bike shed, is simply a tip of the iceberg in relation to Government waste, in relation to public delivery of infrastructure, and that’s really damaging for citizens, because we’re incinerating hard-earned taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Finance Committee chairman John McGuinness said the blame rests firmly with the Oireachtas Commission for not conducting its business properly.
He also accused the OPW of “recklessly spending” the public’s money, adding: “There’s a culture there that stinks.”
Following its review, the OPW said it will now oversee and approve works costing more than €200,000.
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