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THE CONTROVERSIAL SECURITY hut at Government Buildings cost 28% more than originally estimated.
Figures released under Freedom of Information show the original budget costs in May 2022 came to €1,138,904, including VAT.
TDs and Senators were told last September that the final costings came to €1,429,000 – a difference of €291,096.
Last year, Tánaiste Micheál Martin called the cost of the hut “ridiculous” and said he was shocked to hear the figure.
The head of the Office of Public Works (OPW), John Conlon, said at the time he did not believe the cost of the hut was excessive.
The security hut issues were raised with OPW representatives when they were questioned in September at the Oireachtas Finance and Public Expenditure committee about the €336,000 Leinster House bike shelter.
The Project Business Case Document, dated 31 May 2022, has now been released to Waterford Local Radio under the Freedom of Information Act.
It shows the estimated costs were divided between building costs (€895,070 + VAT = €1,015,904) and Professional Fees (€100,000 + VAT = €123,000) and a figure of 1% for ‘ART’.
The combined figures appear substantially below that which was the final cost of €1,429,000.
Under ‘costs and benefits’, the document states that the project was to be co-funded by the Department of Agriculture and the OPW, with each body meeting 50% of the overall costs.
The consultants appointed were Mullarkey Pedersen Architects (for design and tender and construction phases); and Lawler Consulting Engineers (to look after design, tender and installation of mechanical & electrical services of the project.
The 10-page document has a number of lines redacted — including a number under the ‘anticipated outcomes’ headings; and one under ‘approvals’, including the name of the person who approved it and the title and organisation that person is with.
There are no specific details in the business case as to how the ‘roof’ was chosen, and no references to it. The roof is considered is a stand-out feature.
Under ‘anticipated outcomes’, it outlines how the hut or pavilion as it’s called would provide accommodation for two officers to include counters, four lockers and a small tea station; heating and air conditioning; power and data points for PCs; security screens and access control linked to the main control room in government buildings.
The case also outlines how the new structure would meet the requirements of An Garda Síochána’s security report.
John Conlon, the head of the OPW, told the Oireachtas committee meeting last September that “in future, the OPW will ensure that the Oireachtas Commission is fully informed of costs for all elective projects in Leinster House”.
The OPW, in defending the cost of the hut, said the structure was a ‘critical piece of infrastructure’ and needed extensive renovation to meet the requirements of security at Government Buildings, noting that it was becoming an ‘increasingly serious issue’.
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Simon is deeply worried
Simon is deeply concerned
What politician is going to be deeply what . next ?
@ballbreaker: Minister for Truly, Madly.
@ballbreaker: too much listening to savage garden I think… Fly him to the moon someone!
@Brown Boots: I was humming to Right Said Fred’s deeply dippy
Simon should just grow a pair and stop watching the media
@ballbreaker: will North Korea target the People’s Republic of Cork?
Minister Coveney stated that we should “Deploy the fleet” before being hurriedly ushered off stage.
@Tom: lol
@Tom: our only military ship is busy working as a taxi for migrants
@Tom: I feel such a huge sense of relief hearing that Mr Coveney is so outraged!
@Alt Left: we do have more than one ship you know.
@Piarais Mac Maoláin: brilliant
@Tom: Comment of the day!
@Piarais Mac Maoláin: N1
Coveney’s on fire.
North Korea’s missile defence system is terrified.
@Keelan O’neill: when will the the ANTI WAR movements start organising protests against north Korean regime. .!!
@Bobby wilson: They are saving theirs angst for whoever dares confront Commie Kims.
Simon Coveney was an utterly dismal failure as Minister for Housing.
Why is he still a minister?
(Actually why is he even a TD? He didn’t earn hhis seat. He just inherited his Dad’s)
a bit like kim jong un…..
@Colin Morris: True, he just about scraped enough preferences to be elected. He looks the part but lacks the qualities to be a minister although in fairness he is brilliant at telling lies.
@Colin Morris: he did nothing for the badgers either when he was Minister for people with tractors. Oh, dem culls are terrible and not very scientific but sure we’ll keep going with them anyway. Lot of outrage. Little in the way of doing.
In other news, Khaltmaagiin Battulga the president of Mongolia has expressed deep concern at the increase in homelessness in the Republic of Ireland.
Sinister Coveney during an interview on Morning Ireland made an impassioned plea that, “Measures are in place” for the island of Ireland should the world fall prey to a nuclear holocaust and that these measures would be fully implemented by July 31st 2018.
@Frank Cauldhame:
Will Iodine tablets be sent to all households again, I still have mine.
@Liam P Lally: “I would ask that anyone applying for iodine tablets would first be sure to visit our website, http://www.iodine-innit.ie, to find out which variant of iodine to use and the turnaround times for receiving same.”
@Frank Cauldhame: do you need a PSC ?
@lavbeer: Erm, its not compulsory but…..
@Liam P Lally: they have long passed their expiry date, another incredible waste of money by our government, I think FF were in power when they were sent to every house.
Maybe Team America was right and he’s just ronery and he’s crying out for attention.
@Barry O’Brien: he used to be bellicose you know. But that was 2016
Thank God we have a top of the range a missile deflector system in place.Those two army Cessna planes are on standby.Oh,and we have a few lads with rifles too.Ah sure we’re grand.
@gerry fallon: The problem is, Gerry, you would need pilots to fly those two planes.
Here’s an idea simon, how about worrying about the homeless, suicide, and hospital waiting lists in Ireland you muppet.
North Korea can wait.
@Trevor Hayden: but he sorted that by July didn’t he..
Most worthless and useless headline and statement that was ever written right there!!
@Nigel O’Neill: ___Why? It’s not unusual for politicians to make pronouncements about other countries’ actions. It provides a mechanism for a country to engage in discussing its national response and indeed, in some cases, actions. Or, perhaps you feel Ireland should not have that right?
In this same statement he also went full North Korea by encouraging the British government to discard the democratic decisions of the British people to leave the EU.
The poor thing. He must be very stressed. How about worrying about the lack of housing or something meaning to the country?
Eh, get your geography right, Journal.ie. The missile crossed Hokkaido and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The Sea of Japan lies between Japan and Korea, or, in other words, off the west coast of Hokkaido. The missile landed off the east coast of Hokkaido, the Pacific Ocean.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: Jesus who cares? Somewhere near Japan was good enough for me. I never heard of that Ireland sized country before Hokithido before.
Kim Jong-un must be beside himself knowing Coveney is ‘deeply worried’. Stop the lights!
@TheoWolfe: There is no room beside him.
He was t deeply worried about the housing crisis when absconded over to foreign affairs.
I’m sure he’s cacking his jocks whilst mincing about on his holidays…….
Thank you for the comments, they have given me a great laugh.
Kim Jong Un should be fearful. The Skibbereen Eagle is watching.
He must have drawn the short straw when it came to the number of spaces available in the governments nuclear bunker.
deeply worried = must act and look worried..
deeply concerned = i’m in for some browny points….
We’re worried about what Coveney is up to every day, never mind North Korea every few weeks!
About time that they strap Kim Jong-un to a missile and launch him over the Sea of Japan.
Recklessly dangerous buffoon.
Does our wonderful government currently have the ability to reach out to the nation via txt message in the event of a national emergency or will the just rely on RTE and dobson ??
Joe 90 and the sound bites almost as bad as the strutting peacock with children’s socks.
Because Kim could give a flying F word about how Coveney feels…….
Good to see the minister talking a hard line
KIM WEE SON has not slept all night after he heard minister coffee is deeply concerned .
Im sure the little fat guy will go straight to the talks table when he reads how worried simple Simon is.
What a total total plum!!!
I am sure North Korea is upset. Simon, don’t be so silly.
What’s he deeply worried about. Not being leader of FG might be justified but North Korea
Idiot coveney. He’ll probably start blaming it for the Irish housing crisis next!
Why would Coveney be worried?. He will hardly have to fire any of his missiles at Kim Jon.
The Guy is a embarrassment a complete and utter tool .
LOL..As if Kim Jong Ding Dong would listen to this Clown.Coveney Get back to making a balls of your lame job at home..You fool..!
Updated with a completely different story lol!
OK so. there is only emergency alert written in English and the rest is Japanese! I admire Japan slot but this is a fail! I think 90% of the safe people are going to be Japanese and I can see why!
Simon friken Coveny.
Who the flip is he to skutter on?
North Korea must be shaking in their boots now that Coveny had said it’s unacceptable.
Our idiot politicians need to keep the gob shut.
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