Cost of restoring Cork 'glorified shed' tops €400,000
The controversial restoration project made headlines last year when initial costs of €326,000 were announced, with the spend later rising to €361,000.
The cost of restoring Cork's iconic 'fireman’s rest' structure on Anglesea Street has risen again, topping €400,000, while an audit report has said the project was not a good use of the council’s 'limited resources'.
The structure, made from prefabricated cast iron and wrought iron panels, was commissioned by Cork Corporation in 1892 and was situated on Patrick Street for many years.
The controversial restoration project made headlines last year when initial costs of €326,000 were announced, with the spend later rising to €361,000.
The conservation work was completed last year, yet the structure already appears to be rusting.
A yet-unpublished audit report by the Local Government Audit Service (LGAS), an independent body under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, that audits the financial accounts of local authorities, raises concern about the spend on the project.
Originally assembled for Cork Fire Brigade, it was subsequently shared with the staff of the old tram company and CIE.
Over time, the hut became unused, and due to the redesign of Patrick Street in 2002, it was moved to Fitzgerald’s Park.
In 2012, the council commissioned a group of consultants to affect a repair strategy for the hut, which had been vandalised in Fitzgerald Park. As a first step, the council relocated the hut to its parks maintenance compound.
A subsequent report in 2022 by the same consultants noted that the hut had been stored inappropriately, resulting in further deterioration of the structure. At that point, the council decided to restore the hut and fund the project.
The works for the refurbishment and relocation element of the project commenced in late 2023. At audit, management advised that the project was expected to cost €403,000, mainly comprising €254,000 on conservation and restoration works, €126,000 on paving and hard landscaping works, and €23,000 on consultants’ fees.
The auditing body said it had two main concerns regarding the project – “the absence of a documented preliminary value for money assessment” and “the inclusion of paving and landscaping works at rates tendered for another project, which is not compliant with the council's procurement procedures”.
“Given the above issues, management did not demonstrate best use of the council's limited resources,” the report said.
Valerie O’Sullivan, chief executive of Cork City Council, said: “The feedback from the local government auditor is noted and will inform future initiatives.”
The report was provided to members of the city council’s corporate policy group, membership of which consists of Labour’s Peter Horgan, Fianna Fáil’s Terry Shannon, Tony Fitzgerald and Seán Martin, and Fine Gael’s Joe Kavanagh and Shane O’Callaghan.
Mr Horgan asked for a breakdown of how much of the total cost was funded directly by Cork City Council, and how much was funding from a grant provided by the government for projects to commemorate the 'decade of centenaries'.
“Imagine a centenary playground, a centenary toilet on the Marina, a centenary anything that would be of use to the Cork public.”
Cork City Council was contacted for comment.
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