'Most expensive benches ever': Call for an enquiry into Cork City Council's purchase of robot trees
The total cost of the purchase was €355,106 for the robot trees which were unveiled in August 2021.
CORK City Council has been accused of a “lack of data and transparency” on the robot trees installed in Cork city centre.
Labour local area rep in Cork city Peter Horgan received documents from the local authority under Freedom of Information (FOI) showing the costs involved in the purchasing and upkeep of the controversial robot trees on Patrick Street and Grand Parade and has now called for an enquiry into the matter.
The total cost of the purchase was €355,106 for the robot trees which were unveiled in August 2021.
The total cost of regular inspection and maintenance of the robot trees for the period of August 10, 2022 to September 9, 2023 was €17,880.
However, a spokesperson for the council told : “Cork City Council refutes any suggestion that there is not full transparency around the costs associated with the moss walls."
“To date, Cork City Council has paid for the maintenance period of 2022 to 2023 which cost €17,800.
“The period before this was covered by the initial purchase contracted maintenance period."
Cork City Council Director of Services David Joyce expressed interest in the purchase of the robot trees from German-based company Greencity Solutions in September 2020.
A purchase was made later that year for the transport and installation of the robot tree units, AirCare as part of a monthly subscription, data display as part of a monthly subscription, and maintenance and care as part of a monthly subscription.
Since then, councillors have requested a report from Cork City Council on the effectiveness of the robot trees covered in special mosses that trap harmful pollutants and promise to absorb 80% of fine dust particles from the air.
Mr Horgan said the sums of money involved and the "lack of data and transparency demands" a formal inquiry.
“I cannot see any reasons given for pursuing this project that hold up to scrutiny, for what are effectively the most expensive benches ever purchased by a local authority," he said.
“Elected councillors’ questions are stalled or ignored.
“The people’s money could have been spent on a far more productive climate friendly project, on a multiple scale.” “There’s no data on their use. What is most concerning is that elected members had no formal input or sign-off.”
Mr Horgan said that there was no vote or agreement on the purchase of the robot trees which he said would have been the proper thing to do from a governance perspective given the costs involved.
“For the amount that we’re spending to a German company we’re not getting the right level of service it would appear, but it’s clouded in secrecy,” he said.
“That’s why I keep going back to a pro-transparency directive that should be undertaken by City Hall and that all data should be published on a website that everyone can access.
“I shouldn’t have had to resort to a Freedom of Information request, councillors shouldn't have to keep rotating the Executive at Council meetings and get nothing.”
Mr Horgan said he would be contacting parliamentary colleagues in the Public Accounts Committee to consider an investigation.
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