THE CHAIRMAN OF the Office of Public Works (OPW) has been invited to an Oireachtas meeting next week by the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil to answer questions on the cost of the Leinster House bike shed.

It emerged earlier this month that more than €335,000 of public money was spent on a recently installed bicycle shelter at Leinster House.

At the outset of the Dáil’s return today after the summer recess, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl began by addressing the scandal ahead of opening Leaders’ Questions. 

“Before we begin today’s session, I believe it would be remiss of me as Ceann Comhairle not to make a few remarks on the issue of the Leinster House bicycle shelter, the infamous shelter. The cost of which has been rightly criticised since it was disclosed,” Ó Fearghaíl said.

He continued: “Members of this house have received countless emails, texts and phone calls about the exorbitant cost of the shelter. Nobody can understand how a civil structure to park bikes ended up costing €336,000 of taxpayers’ money.

I know that I speak for everyone in this house when I say that it’s a profound embarrassment and the depth of public anger is entirely justified.”

The Ceann Comhairle said that as chairman of the House of the Oireachtas Commission he has asked the chairman of the OPW, the owner of Leinster House, to attend a meeting next week to answer questions about the spending.

He said he specifically wants to find out why the value for money of the project was not queried when the cost became clear to the OPW. 

“As public representatives, we don’t get everything right, and we can be rightly criticised for some of the things we do. However, we understand that taxpayers money must be spent prudently and carefully, and we know how galling it is for those struggling to pay their bills to read about excessive expenditure of this nature on a bike shelter in Leinster House,” the Ceann Comhairle said.

He added: “So let me say that whatever the findings of the OPW review, lessons must be and will be learned, and there cannot be repeat of such unwarranted and indefensible expenditure of taxpayers’ money. As TDs elected to represent the people we need to ensure that on their behalf.”