Irish public ‘rightly annoyed’ at €336,000 bike shed for Leinster House

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

The Irish public are “rightly annoyed” at 336,000 euros of public money being spent on a bike shelter on parliamentary grounds, the finance minister has said.

The glass covering, which can hold around 18 bikes and is located on the grounds of Leinster House, has been the subject of criticism and ridicule for its high cost.

A breakdown of the costs shows that almost €4,000 was spent on archaeological services, almost €284,000 on construction and installation and more than €10,000 on contract admin services.

People have been seen taking photos of the shelter through the Leinster House fence in the days since the controversy emerged.

“I think the public are rightly annoyed at this. It’s a complete waste of public money,” Finance Minister Jack Chambers said on Wednesday.

“I think there is a need within the wider system for those who are responsible for capital projects to be cognisant of value engineering, value for money, and ensuring that whenever projects are advanced, and that they’re at the lowest cost in terms of the taxpayer.

“I think people are rightly annoyed at this, and there needs to be full accountability for whoever signed off on it, and they should explain why it cost what it has cost.”

Junior minister Kieran O’Donnell, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has asked his officials to carry out a full review of the project.

The OPW said the structure consists of a steel-framed glazed canopy to ensure long-term durability.

The materials used to build it included Irish granite, and the glass and steel were “carefully selected not only for their durability, but also for their compatibility with the historic setting of our national parliament”.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said the cost was “inexcusable and inexplicable”, while Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, who welcomed the bike shelter when it was completed in April, said he was “shocked” at the cost.