PUBLIC confidence in the OPW is being eroded by a series of overspend scandals, it has been claimed following revelations that the State body spent nearly €500,000 on a wall.
Reports this week revealed that the Office of Public Works spent €490,000 to replace a wall outside the Workplace Relations Commission HQ in Dublin.
The work to replace the wall was due to cost €200,000 but the bill ballooned to €490,000 following a series of delays and unforeseen overspends.
The removal of a live wire from the ESB added €54,000 while the closure of footpaths and public parking pushed the bill up by €61,200.
In total, the 70 metre wall in Dublin’s Ballsbridge cost €491,000 – around €7,000 per metre.
The OPW were also in charge of the infamous Leinster House bike shed which cost €336,000 and the security hut at the Department of Finance which cost €1.4 million.
Independent TD Kevin Boxer Moran was today appointed junior minister in charge of the Office of Public Works.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon today claimed the series of overspending scandals is eroding the public trust in the OPW as he blasted the half a million euro wall spend.
Deputy Gannon called on the new Minister for the OPW to ensure there is accountability for the series of overspends.
He said: “The OPW’s cavalier approach to spending taxpayers’ money is not just financially ruinous – it is corrosive of public trust in politics and institutions.
“The incoming Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW must ensure there is full accountability, transparency and value for money – and have a far more hands-on approach to public projects than their predecessors.
“It is vital that future projects are delivered on budget and on time – and that there are consequences for failure at the highest political level.”
Aontu leader Peadar Toibin believes the Office of Public Works needs to be investigated over the overspends.
‘OFFICE OF POSH WALLS’
He said: “The government spent €490,000 for a wall that is shorter than the width of a football pitch.
“That’s €7,000 per metre. The Office of Posh Walls needs to be investigated now.”
The OPW today said that the discovery of a high voltage live wire during the rebuild was the main driver of the huge spend.
They said: “The fact that the live wire was found, which posed a serious health and safety risk introduced an unforeseen complexity into the project, increasing the time and costs involved.”
