Cork City Council defends €326,000 spend on Fireman’s Rest restoration 

Cork City Council has defended spending more than €326,000 on the restoration of a 120-year-old Fireman’s Rest in the city centre, as works came following “repeated public requests”.

The historic structure, which stood on Patrick’s Street for over a century and was stored at the Fitzgerald’s Park depot for two decades, is now located outside the fire station on Anglesea Street, and consists of a small hut, that was, at one time, manned 24/7 by a firefighter.

While the structure was initially assembled for the city’s fire brigade, it was also used by a tram company and later by the CIÉ.

Following a Cork City Council meeting in February of last year, The Echo reported that restoration costs had already exceeded €200,000 and were on course to cost at least another €100,000.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council confirmed this week that the total cost of restoration works for the hut stands at €326,550.

Cork Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn said that it was scandalous to spend so much money on a structure which is “the size of a garden shed.”

“When I think about the people in Cork city who are waiting for vital home adaptations like stair lifts, walk-in showers, or accessible bathrooms, this type of wasteful spending is indefensible,” said Mr O’Flynn.

“€326,550 for a structure that serves no functional purpose could have been directed toward addressing critical needs, particularly for our elderly, disabled, and those waiting on the housing list.

Mismanagement

“This is exactly the kind of mismanagement we saw with the infamous bicycle shed at Leinster House — it’s clear that we need robust oversight to ensure taxpayers’ money is used effectively and responsibly.”

In a statement supplied by Cork City Council, a breakdown of costs for the hut was revealed, showing €214,550 for restoration works and €112,000 for enabling works.

The statement further said that the structure has “strong links” to the working people of Cork, and the restoration of such would serve to recognise the role of the city’s fire brigade in protecting the people of Cork since 1877.

“Over the decades, repeated public requests to refurbish the Fireman’s Rest were made to Cork City Council by local historians, former fire brigade and CIE workers,” the spokesperson said.

“However, funding was not available as it would require detailed and costly specialist work.

“It involved the careful, skilled dismantling of the existing structure, transport for stripping, blasting and casting of new panels, extensive repair of cracked cast iron panels, working with wrought iron, lead roofing and stonemasonry to the new cut limestone plinth to replicate the initial scheme.

“The refurbishment of the Fireman’s Rest necessitated a standard of conservation craftmanship that most general construction contractors do not possess.

“The project was subject to a competitive tendering process and therefore prices are reflective of the market prices for such skills and experience.”