Ireland’s prime minister, Simon Harris, has said he is “angry and annoyed” at the “inexcusable” €336,000 cost for a bike shelter at Leinster House in Dublin, the seat of the Irish parliament.
The taoiseach told a news conference that people could see the benefit of having somewhere to park a bike at a workplace but what they did not get was “the extraordinary sum of money” the shelter cost, and neither did he.
His comments echoed those of the transport minister and former Green leader, Eamon Ryan – himself a cyclist – who said the project seemed to be “incredibly expensive”.
The structure, which can accommodate 36 bikes, consists of a steel-framed canopy designed to be both long-lasting and to protect them from the elements.
Kieran O’Donnell, the minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), which carried out the work, has requested an immediate review of the project.
An OPW spokesperson said the bike shelter “was procured via a framework agreement and complies with public procurement and planning guidelines”, but cited the historic nature and setting of Leinster House as a major cost factor.
It said it “recognises the importance of ensuring that public money is spent transparently”, but that the construction provided “several unique challenges” because Leinster House was a “protected structure of national importance”.
Almost €284,000 was spent on the construction of the shelter and nearly €3,000 on archaeological services. VAT accounted for more than €38,000 and administrative costs including surveying came to nearly €11,000.
“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 OPW said.
Work on the shelter began in January and was completed in mid-April.