THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT Authority said a row of steps that went €500,000 over budget is a “good project”.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council spent €753,528 on 14 steps, a handrail and a ramp at Deerpark in Mount Merrion, Dublin. The original budget was about €200,000. 

The park at Mount Merrion is run by the local authority but funding for the project was provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee today, Hugh Creegan, interim chief executive of the NTA, admitted the initial analysis of the project was “rudimentary”.

The overrun had been previously reported by the Irish Times and explanations were sought this morning during the NTA’s appearance. Defending the project, Creegan explained: 

It’s simplistic to say it’s ’14 steps’.

“The route was inaccessible to people in wheelchairs… but it should have been possible to do it cheaper. It solved a problem that existed there previously.”

The committee heard the road has a 10% gradient and the further entrance to the Deerpark is not suitable for wheelchairs.

The size of the project meant it did not require a business case. 

“They (the council) gave us a concept of what the project would be and an estimate,” Creegan added.

“The estimates are based on limited information, rudimentary to say the least.

“As the project developed, we expect issues to be found out and dealt with. Maybe some extra trial testing should have been done in advance, things could have been done better.”

The initial budget of around €200,000 was landed at in 2023. He said the council informed them of potential cost issues, as well as site delays, during the building process.   

“They flag issues that might arise, costs or time for example, and in this case, they flagged cost issues arising.

“They applied for an allocation adjustment request, giving us reasons why they need more allocation,” Creegan added.

“We looked at the site, it was half finished at the time, we think it’s a good outcome and decided to provide extra funding.

“This is a good project, it was worth doing. It’s a pity it cost as much as it did, greater care should’ve been taken at the design stage.”

There was a procurement process after which a designer and contractor were appointed. During construction “various things became apparent”, Creegan said.

The issues that arose included the presence of tree roots and uncharted electricity cables. 

“The general oversight of that project, like, was so poor,” he said.

“I agree that it could have been a whole lot better. I have to say we don’t manage it on site, day-by-day, that’s managed by the local authority. But I do think you’re quite right. Certainly, there were things that could have been done better in hindsight.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “You couldn’t make this up. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are serial wasters of public money.”

Labour Eoghan Kenny TD has called on the government to immediately bring all local authorities under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), following revelations of what he described as “outrageous and unjustifiable”.