OPW Shares Price Breakdown Of Expensive Bike Shed Installed

OPW shares price breakdown of the expensive bike shed that was installed at Leinster House at the beginning of this month. Based on the archaeologist’s advice, the Office of Public Works (OPW) shared the details about the notorious bike shed.

The expensive bike shed at Leinster House cost around €336,000 for its structure, now remembered as “the most expensive bike shed in the world”. Recently, it has become the subject of an external audit for which OPW shares price breakdown of the entire infrastructure.

(Also read: Minister Of Transport Asks About The Expensive Bike Shed Installation At Leinster House)

OPW informed that €3,000 was spent on the archaeologist’s services and the quantity surveying of the well-built stand cost nearly €11,000.

The total costs of manufacturing, supplying and installation accounted for up to €120,000 which is needed to cater for an average daily capacity of 4.5 bikes and an overall capacity of 36 bikes, according to a study.

The Chairman of OPW, John Conlon said, “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 the value of money and value of taxpayer”.

The Chairman was of the view that the cost of an expensive bike shed at Leinster House does not justify the provision of a sheltered bike stand for which, OPW needs to offer serious reflections.

He verified the details of the project with the project head and discussed the project file papers with them along with officials in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

OPW shares price breakdown of the bike shed and Mr Colon’s views on it

Mr Conlon emphasised the need for an external audit to gain full transparency and independent verification of the project. He further added that he is seeking the help of an external auditor who should support OPW in future about the value of money on such projects.

As a future precaution, all projects between €200,000 and €500,000 would have to undergo an initial assessment for estimating their cost and value, called VfM assessment. It would be presented to the project management heads in order to obtain a final go-ahead for the project.

Mr Conlon stressed that if the project was initially presented to the Oireachtas Commission, a clear view of the project and its relevant costs would have been determined and “fully understood”.

Politicians were surprised as they mentioned that no costs were explained to them about the new bike shed. Upon this, Mr Conlon underlined that costs should be communicated with the governance so that project-by-project value for money is clear in the view.

He assured that in future, these costs would be communicated with the Oireachtas Commission for any of the projects required by Leinster House.

OPW will be present in front of the Oireachtas Finance Committee at 1:30 pm today to discuss the controversy with a breakdown of the costs.

Mr Conlon was positive that he would explain the cost structure that has infuriated the elected representatives as well as the common public. Their anger and frustration were justified as the value stands firm for all of the Irish people.

The project management board which was responsible for overseeing the work would be asked for the breakdown of €200,000. The approval of similar future projects above this threshold would need signatures from all the relevant parties, for which Mr Conlon was sure to get public funds being spent right.

More robust decision-making is now the need of time, as Mr Conlon put in, since the projects at Leinster House involve public money that needs to be spent weekly.

OPW shares price breakdown of the bike shed as follows: