REVEALED: Almost €1.5 million spent on security hut outside Department of Finance, OPW says

Over €1.4 million was spent on the construction of a small security hut at the entrance to the Department of Finance, it has been revealed.

Chairman of the Office of Public Works (OPW) John Conlan revealed that €1,429,000 was spent on the project to deliver this copper-roofed security hut at the south Merrion Street entrance to the Department.

The OPW is currently appearing before the Oireachtas Finance and Public Expenditure Committee to discuss the installation of the controversial bike shelter at Leinster House that cost a staggering €336,000 in total.

Conlon said the security hut followed an extensive consultation with gardaí and included significant electrical and security considerations.

Green Party TD Stephen Matthews questioned Conlon on the security building, saying that there was "a huge price tag on it".

Asked by Matthews on who had signed off on the project, Conlon said it would have been signed off at Assistant Secretary level in the OPW, rather than by the Minister in charge at the time.

Commenting on the bike shelter cost earlier today, OPW representatives found that the construction came at an “extraordinary cost” that was “completely not acceptable”.

The OPW’s Accounting Officer has said that the cost was not acceptable “in the wider context of value for money and value for the taxpayer”.

“It is an extraordinary cost for the provision of a covered bicycle parking facility and one which the OPW has to seriously reflect on.”

They said they will also get an external audit of the project, to “ensure full transparency”.

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