General News
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl has described the saga around cost of the bike shed outside Leinster House as a “profound embarrassment”.
The comments come as it was revealed earlier this month that a bike shed, which can hold up to 18 bicycles and is located on the Merrion Street entrance to Leinster House, cost €336,000 and was paid for by the Office for Public Works (OPW).
Speaking at the resumption of the Dáil this afternoon, the Ceann Comhairle took the opportunity before leaders questions got underway, to address the issue.
Mr Ó Fearghaíl said members of the Oireachtas have received countless emails, texts and phone calls about the “exorbitant cost of the shelter”.
“Nobody can understand how a simple structure to park bikes ended up costing €336,000 of taxpayers money. I know that I speak for everyone in this house, when I say that it’s a profound embarrassment and the depth of public anger is entirely justified,” the Ceann Comhairle said.
Mr Ó Fearghaíl said it was now important to find out why the cost of the project wasn’t queried when it came to the OPW’s attention.
“I know the chairman of the OPW is preparing a report on the project for the relevant minister. However, as chairman of the Houses of the Oireachtas commission, I’ve asked the chairman of the OPW to attend our meeting next week, where we will where he will have the opportunity to explain and to answer questions,” The Ceann Comhairle said.
“Specifically, it is important to find out why the value for money of the project wasn’t queried when the cost became clear to the OPW,” he added.
The Ceann Comhairle said while public representatives don’t get everything right, it was important that tax payers money is spent prudently.
“As public representatives, we don’t get everything right, and we can be rightly criticized for some of the things we do. However, we understand that taxpayers’ money must be spent prudently and carefully, and we know how galling it is for those struggling to pay their bills to read about excessive expenditure of this nature on a bike shelter in Leinster House,” Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.
He added that lessons must and will be learned from what happened.
“There cannot be a repeat of such unwarranted and indefensible expenditure of taxpayers money as TDs elected to represent the people, we need to ensure that on their behalf,” the Ceann Comhairle said.
