Calls for probe into OPW spending as anger mounts over security hut and bike shed

It comes following ongoing revelations about the cost of a €1.4bn security hut beside the Department of Finance and the €335K Leinster House bike shed that was built in “probably the most expensive area that could have been chosen”.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has written to the Comptroller and Auditor General requesting a probe into OPW spending.

It comes following ongoing revelations about the cost of a €1.4bn security hut beside the Department of Finance and the €335K Leinster House bike shed that was built in “probably the most expensive area that could have been chosen”.

There is ongoing anger in Government about the controversies surrounding the bike shed, the security hut and the ongoing rising cost of the National Children’s Hospital.

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Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman told the Irish Mirror on Thursday that it was “deeply frustrating” at a time when ministers are “fighting for every cent” in budget negotiation.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibin wrote to the Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy on Thursday calling for him to investigate spending by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

“I remain concerned that the Office of Public Works, its management and its overall governance structure including its political oversight in Government have not been forthcoming with how these decisions were made and by whom and its general regard for the management of the public finances it oversees,” he wrote.

“I am asking you to immediately investigate the OPW and publish a report on these matters as they relate to value for money and the administration of public funds.”

Mr Tóibín told the Irish Mirror that “people have had enough of this government’s waste”.

“We are waiting for 7 years for the planning permission for life saving OPW projects such as the Midleton flood defences, yet money is being squandered on pet projects for the political class,” he said.

“The Gucci bike shed and the salubrious security hut are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of government waste.

“The mammoth cost of the security hut is being blamed on technology and mechanical costs. We need to know how this can be the case and we need to analyse the decision-making process.

“Shockingly it appears that the audit of these overspends is going to be outsourced and will go to tender. This will mean that there will be a big chunk of extra cost to investigate the extra cost already incurred.

“The key reform we need is that individuals within the Public Service tasked with spending state money need to have hard-wired into their job contracts and their job spec the responsibility to achieve value for money.

“If there is no individual responsibility to protect taxpayers' money these crises will repeat over and over again.”

A spokeswoman for Minister Paschal Donohoe stated that an “extraordinary amount of money” had been spent on the security hut and “people will rightly want to know how and why”.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman also expressed frustration over the costs but insisted that the Government did have regard for taxpayers’ money when asked by the Irish Mirror.

“I'm in the middle of my budget negotiations with Minister Donohoe at the moment,” he said.

“Every cent has to be fought over. It is deeply, deeply frustrating for me as a minister and indeed for many of the ministers who are looking to get greater investments into key public services, into key public infrastructure, when we see situations where it looks like public money hasn't been well spent.”

Mr O’Gorman stated that these issues are being raised by voters in advance of an impending general election. He noted that he was at a hospice event on Thursday and it was “definitely coming up”.

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