The Office of Public Works (OPW) continues to vigorously defend the €1.4 million expenditure on a security booth at the Department of Finance, amidst a barrage of persistent political objections since the budget discovery.
A comprehensive statement was issued earlier this week, giving a breakdown of major expenses, including €60,000 that was spent on a metallic roof. This particular feature was humorously compared to the hairstyle of the Ex-US President, Donald Trump, in the Oireachtas.
The OPW, in its statement, recognised the public and political scrutiny of the expenditure. The response detailed that the plan and execution of the project were based on an investigation by the Garda. The study discovered several security vulnerabilities at Leinster House and suggested prompt actions.
The OPW underscored that the security of Government Buildings, owing to a rise in incidents over recent years, necessitates serious attention. They recalled past instances such as vehicles breaking through the Leinster House gates in September of 2010 and also instances of breach at Government Buildings in August 2024.
The state agency also shed light on the used space constraints due to the extensive environmental control systems set up inside the roof, which necessitated a thicker roof. The process required inherent alignment with wide-ranging CCTV, data, communication, electricity and supporting infrastructure.
A condition stipulated by the planning committee that the structure be of exceptional quality to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the heritage site and the historical surroundings, was also highlighted by OPW.
The financial information released by the OPW listed the pavilion’s price at €283,231 and the sum for building and site charges as €393,325. Moreover, the combined cost of electrical and security systems amounted to €558,118. The safety features, like ramps, anti-ram devices, and turnstiles necessitated an additional spend of €143,376 after the spending of €150,282 on security systems.
The interim security booth was priced at €190,169, and design fees added another €121,219 to the account. Factoring in VAT, the construction expenses were marginally below €1.3 million, and this climbed to €1.429 million upon inclusion of design team costs and other lesser expenses.