Leinster House bike shed 'not consistent with the scale of the project', new report finds
The Office of Public Works (OPW) published an 11-page report on the €335,000 bike shed in Leinster House on Wednesday morning.
by Louise Burne · Irish MirrorThe cost of the Leinster House bike shed was "completely not acceptable" and "not consistent with the scale of the project", a new report has found.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) published an 11-page report on the €335,000 bike shed in Leinster House on Wednesday morning.
The structure, which provides parking for 36 bikes, has caused consternation in recent weeks, with Taoiseach Simon Harris and Finance Minister Jack Chambers lambasting the price of the shelter.
READ MORE - 'Annoyed' Taoiseach says cost of €335k Leinster House bike shed 'inexcusable'
The report, written by John Conlon, Chair of the OPW, was published ahead of the body’s meeting at the Oireachtas Finance Committee on Wednesday afternoon.
He stated that "a simple assessment was undertaken, as required by the Public Spending Code".
"The assessment should have placed a greater emphasis on the value for money aspects of the project," he wrote.
"A total project cost (which includes archaeology, contract fees, construction costs and contingency) was estimated at €350,000 (ex VAT) following a review of the design.
"This maximum total project cost was set by the relevant officer within the defined OPW financial thresholds. I am concerned that this level of expenditure is not consistent with the scale of the project under consideration – a covered bicycle facility."
A breakdown of costs showed that €121,000 was spent on a covered shelter and bike stands, which included the manufacture, supply and installation.
Other works, including groundworks to Leinster Lawn, ducting and power, drainage and resurfacing works cost €53,000.
Some €45,000 was spent on granite landscaping, while dayworks cost €30,000. Preliminaries cost €23,000, while "agree variation" was valued at €11,416.
After VAT, the total cost of the Leinster House bike shed was €336,051.30.
The report also said that there were a "number of options" looked at for the bike shed. This included the OPW's "preferred option" to locate the bike shed at the "West Road in front of the 1966 Block outside the Member’s Restaurant".
"The positives were that it was ‘out of sight’, adjacent to an entrance, would not impact on listed buildings and would likely be a cost-effective option to deliver," it said.
"The OPW understood that this option would require operational changes relating to security and circulation which were not insurmountable."
However, the report stated that the House of the Oireachtas Commission indicated this was "not an acceptable proposition" and this was "supported by security advice.".
Mr Conlon continued: "As Accounting Officer for the OPW I acknowledge that, while the costs for this project can be explained, the overall cost of delivering a covered bicycle shelter at Leinster House is completely not acceptable in the wider context of value for money and value for the taxpayer.
"It is an extraordinary cost for the provision of a covered bicycle parking facility and one which the OPW has to seriously reflect on."
Mr Conlon said he would introduce an "additional step in our governance process whereby all projects between €200,000 and €500,000 must have "an initial cost and value for money assessment and be presented to the relevant Management Board member for approval to proceed".
An external auditor will also be asked to conduct an audit of the Leinster House bike shed.
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