OPW Informs Committee Of €1.4m Spent On Government Department Security Pavilion

The cost of the security pavilion at the south gate of Government Buildings, next to the Department of Finance, has sparked attention after it was revealed that the project exceeded €1.4 million. 

This figure was disclosed by OPW (Office of Public Works) Chairman John Conlon during a session of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, where he was questioned about various high-profile expenditures, including a controversial bike shelter.

According to Mr. Conlon, the security pavilion was installed following extensive consultations with the Gardaí, which led to the inclusion of several costly features. These included significant mechanical, electrical, and security systems, as well as underground works, ventilation, and CCTV. 

The pavilion’s design required substantial investment in both physical infrastructure and security technology. “There was a huge security element,” Mr. Conlon explained, revealing that the total cost of the pavilion reached €1.429 million.

When Green Party TD Steven Matthews inquired who had signed off on the project’s high costs, Mr. Conlon clarified that the expenditure had been approved at the Assistant Secretary level within the OPW, rather than by the minister in charge. 

This raised further questions about oversight and accountability within the department, particularly regarding large-scale expenditures.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, when asked about the costs associated with the security pavilion, focused on the importance of ensuring transparency and value for money in government projects. He noted, “I can’t know enough about the rationale behind such a level of expenditure,” but stressed the necessity for the OPW to justify the spending to both the Oireachtas and the Irish public. 

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Harris added that security projects, while essential, must also demonstrate fiscal responsibility. “Security is extraordinarily important, but making sure that happens within the context of value for money is an absolute imperative,” he said.

The high cost of the security pavilion has attracted scrutiny, particularly in light of other recent OPW projects. Earlier in the committee hearing, it emerged that the OPW had recommended a more cost-effective option for bicycle parking outside Leinster House three years ago. 

The proposal, which suggested uncovered bicycle parking outside the Members’ Restaurant, was initially seen as a way to reduce costs.

However, security advice rendered the option unfeasible. Despite this, the OPW had believed the uncovered parking would have been out of sight and posed minimal impact on the historic buildings surrounding it.

A report published about the controversial €336,000 covered bike shelter outlined the breakdown of costs involved. The manufacture and installation of the steel structure alone came to €121,194.29, with additional expenses related to drainage and resurfacing work totaling €52,886.84. 

The granite landscaping around the bike shelter added another €44,940. This extensive expenditure for a relatively small structure has led to public concerns about the level of spending on projects overseen by the OPW.

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Mr. Conlon acknowledged these concerns, stating that the cost of the bike shelter was indeed “extraordinary” and did not align with the scale of the project. He has since taken steps to revise the OPW’s internal approval processes. 

New Guidelines By OPW (Office Of The Public Works)

Under new guidelines, any project exceeding €200,000 will now require approval from the Management Board, ensuring that greater scrutiny is applied to future expenditures.

Additionally, Mr. Conlon has engaged an external auditor to provide advice on how to better ensure value for money on smaller projects, particularly those costing under €500,000.

During his testimony to the committee, Mr. Conlon also provided an update on flood risk management efforts led by the OPW. He outlined the Government’s commitment to investing €1.3 billion as part of the National Development Plan to protect homes and businesses from river and coastal flooding. 

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The OPW is spearheading a “whole of government” approach to managing flood risk, which focuses on three key areas: prevention, protection, and preparedness.

To date, 55 flood protection schemes have been completed, costing approximately €550 million. These projects have provided protection to over 13,000 properties nationwide, delivering an estimated economic benefit of €2 billion through damages and losses avoided. 

The government’s goal is to protect around 23,000 additional homes and businesses over the lifetime of the National Development Plan.