Ireland’s prime minister has slammed a small bike shelter in its parliament buildings as “inexcusable” after the cost came to almost £300,000.
Simon Harris said he was “angry and upset” at the shelter at Leinster House in Dublin after reports it could fit between 18 and 36 bikes.
The bike shed at Leinster House was initially cited as a good example Public sector environmental action.
The MPs said the structure was not even a shed but an L-shaped canopy, which meant politicians, staff and visitors’ bikes could get wet even if it rained.
The Irish Times and Irish Independent said the shelter could fit 18 bikes but the Irish Cycle website said each of its 18 racks could hold two bikes.
Mr Harris said the €336,000 (£283,300) bill, responsible for ensuring the shelter matched the look and feel of historic Leinster House, was “inexcusable and inexplicable”.
He welcomed the urgent review of spending ordered by Public Works Minister Kieran O’Donnell on Tuesday.
‘angry and upset’
The Taoiseach said there were benefits to workplaces providing parking for bikes, but not at such a cost.
“People get it. What they don’t get is the extraordinary amount that this has cost, and I clearly don’t either,” he told reporters. “This is something that rightly angers and annoys people and that Makes me angry and annoyed too.”
Helen McEntee, Minister of Justiceadding that “seems like an astronomical sum for what is essentially a bike shed”.
The Office of Public Works said the construction of the shelter presented “some unique challenges” as it was built on the Leinster House complex, which is a “protected structure of national importance”.
A spokesperson said, “The structure consists of a steel-framed, glazed canopy to ensure long-term durability. The materials used, including Irish granite, glass and steel, were carefully selected not only for their durability, but also for their relevance to the historic setting of our national parliament.
The cost was first reported by The Irish Times. A breakdown of costs shows that €322,282 was spent on construction and installation, €2,952 was spent on archaeological services and €10,816 was spent on quantity surveying services and “contract administration services”.
Eamonn Ryan, A Green Minister in coalition governmentAppreciated the shelter on environmental grounds in April.
On Tuesday, he said he was “shocked” by the bill, which he said seemed “incredibly expensive”.
Green Party MP Nessa Hourigan, who is an architect, told the RTE broadcaster that it should be half the price.
“That’s the cost of building a house. It’s not even a shade, it’s an L-shaped canopy. So your bike will probably still get wet,” she said.
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