A project by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to replace a 70-metre perimeter wall at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in Dublin has come under heavy scrutiny after costs soared to nearly €490,000. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon described the expenditure as “astonishing” and called for greater political oversight of public spending.
Initially estimated at €200,000 excluding VAT, the project faced significant delays and cost overruns after a high-voltage live ESB cable and a leaking pipe were discovered during preliminary works. These unforeseen issues led to a two-year delay and added more than €250,000 to the final bill.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Deputy Gannon criticised the OPW’s handling of costs, stating that such excessive spending undermines public trust. He referenced other controversial OPW projects, including the construction of a bike shelter at Leinster House and a security office at Government Buildings. “It erodes trust when an agency has so little oversight over public money,” he said.
The OPW acknowledged the “very significant delays as well as increased costs” at the WRC site in Ballsbridge. A breakdown of spending, released under Freedom of Information (FOI), revealed additional payments of €54,000 to the ESB for wire redirection, €61,500 to Dublin City Council for road and parking closures, and €82,200 in ancillary costs.
Gannon expressed frustration over the lengthy timeline and escalating expenses. “People understand that complications arise, but what they won’t understand is why they result in a two-year delay and a €7,000 per square metre cost for a wall,” he said. He also called on the government to ensure value for taxpayer money and demanded increased oversight of OPW projects.
Lack of Transparency Criticised
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín echoed concerns over the project’s financial management, calling the lack of a detailed cost breakdown “unacceptable.” Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Tóibín criticised the OPW for failing to account for ancillary charges and suggested poor planning was to blame.
“They didn’t even have enough bricks to finish the wall, which caused further delays and added costs,” he stated. “It’s a simple calculation: how many bricks do you need given the size of the wall? The fact that the OPW failed to establish this from the outset is incredible.”
Tóibín also linked the issue to wider concerns about cost management in public infrastructure projects, citing the spiralling costs of the National Children’s Hospital. “If we tolerate this level of mismanagement, we are essentially incinerating taxpayer money,” he warned.
Despite the backlash, the OPW defended its decision to rebuild the wall using salvaged bricks, initially estimating the work at €213,366 inclusive of VAT. However, critics argue that the final price tag remains unjustifiable.
As public outcry over the project grows, calls for reform in government oversight of infrastructure spending are likely to intensify. Whether the OPW will face increased scrutiny moving forward remains to be seen.
