Cost of restoring Cork's Fireman's Rest has risen past €360k

The total cost of restoring the ‘Fireman’s Rest’ has risen to €361,446, new data has shown, with councillors questioning who signed off on the project.

A breakdown provided by the council to Sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central Thomas Gould shows that the project, “fully funded by Cork City Council”, saw them pay out €112,000 to Sorensen’s for site works and €214,550 to Queenstown Restoration contractor.

The restoration made up a significant portion of the total expenditure, with €143,750 spent on ‘metalwork repair restoration and recasting’.

Other significant costs include prelims for €25,500, limestone plinth and steps for €13,200, and alterations to create a ‘hanging gable for cresting’ for €15,000.

The remainder of the costs were made up of €18,988 for conservation consultants, €12,000 for roof leading, €3,000 for roof structure, €5,500 for the limecrete floor, €4,500 for external doors, €2,500 for ceiling, €4,600 for scaffolding, and €908 for photography.

Scandalous

Mr Gould said: “The scandalous cost seems to just keep growing. In 2024, we were told it would be in the region of €300,000. It was confirmed as €321,000 in January and, four weeks later, the cost has grown by another €40,000.

“Who is overseeing this project? How is the cost now increasing by €10,000 a week? What is the actual final cost of this project?

“I cannot wrap my head around how almost €5,000 was spent on scaffolding for a hut that’s not even eight foot tall,” said Mr Gould.

“Cork City Council have to answer questions about how these decisions were reached.

“There are people in this city living in mouldy, damp conditions. The council is their landlord. If we saw a private landlord spending money like that while they left their tenants in rotting homes, people would be shocked and rightly so.

“The city council have confirmed they funded this themselves — not through a specific funding stream.

“That money could have been better used to repair footpaths, upgrade parks and playgrounds, fix people’s homes or invest in buildings like the Shandon Butter Exchange or historic villages like Blackpool that could have real economic benefits to Cork city,” he added.

Frustrated

Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins added: “I am very frustrated to hear that €361,000 was taken from council’s budget to pay for this with no vote by councillors.

“At the recent budget, council tried to increase rates on struggling businesses because of a hole in their budget — at the same time, they were paying someone €1,000 to take pictures of a glorified shed. It is unbelievable.”

Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan added: “This project is to be investigated by the audit committee of the city council but any payments should be frozen now.

“Over €361,000 on a shed which has little to no practical use while I am repeatedly told we don’t have money for a new playground or a new public toilet. The audit committee should convene immediately on this and seek refunds.

“This is bordering on farcical given how the monies continue to rise. The fact that this went through outside of the finance committee raises concerns and red flags.

“Who wanted this project? Who signed off this project? Who stands by this project? Because I have yet to hear any elected member defend this spend or this project at all.” The Echo contacted Cork City Council for comment.