The construction of a bicycle shelter at University Hospital Kerry, which came in at a cost of €127,000, has been condemned in the Dáil as a disgraceful squandering of public funds that adds further insult to families already struggling under immense strain.
Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty branded the project an outright waste and accused the Government of being habitual squanderers of taxpayers’ money, reports RTE.
He highlighted that the expenditure was occurring at a time when patients were being treated on hospital trolleys and a recruitment embargo had been imposed across parts of the health service. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Mr Doherty pointed out that far more economical alternatives had been available, including a basic shed costing as little as €7,000.
“If this was satire, it would be unbelievable,” he said, reports RTE.
This disclosure, first brought to light by The Kerryman newspaper, follows the controversy over the €336,000 previously spent on a bicycle shelter at Leinster House.
“Another day, another bike shed scandal,” he said, reports RTE.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee defended the Kerry shelter, telling the Dáil that it had been approved through the proper procurement channels and that a genuine need had been identified for the structure. She said the Government was committed to supporting active travel and encouraging more people to commute by bicycle.
The minister acknowledged that no one had supported the level of spending on the Leinster House shelter and confirmed that the Office of Public Works had since introduced new controls to prevent a repeat, reports RTE.
She added that all government departments are required to ensure that public money is directed only where it is genuinely needed. She also told the Dáil that major capital projects are now being delivered on time and within budget, and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring every euro is spent on those who need it most.
The Public Accounts Committee separately confirmed it would be writing to the HSE to seek answers on the cost of the new shelter. Committee Chairman John Brady described it as “an extravagant building” that had left him “shocked and horrified,” particularly given the financial pressures being faced by so many people, reports RTE.
The committee agreed to contact the HSE to establish, in Deputy Brady’s words, “why that money was wasted,” and to find out whether more cost-effective options had been considered and, if so, why they were passed over.
The Labour Party, meanwhile, renewed its demand for a mini-Budget to ease the burden on PAYE workers. Speaking during Leader’s Questions, Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Ged Nash accused the Government of having “caved into sectoral interests and shelled out 750 million euro to buy their silence for a few weeks” in a reference to the recent fuel protests, adding, “There was nothing for PAYE workers and they know it,” reports RTE.
Mr Nash outlined a range of difficulties confronting workers, including elevated grocery prices, what he described as “the highest electricity prices in Europe ahead of a harsh winter,” and what he called “a sham fight on college fees this week.” His remarks referenced an internal dispute within Fine Gael over Minister for Higher Education James Lawless’s reluctance to commit to a reduction in college fees this autumn.
In response, Minister McEntee said, “We can all see the challenges people are facing with money,” adding that the Government had already committed to adjusting income tax brackets in a way that would benefit ordinary workers. She said plans were also in place to reduce childcare costs, and pointed to the budget surplus as evidence of the Government’s capacity to deliver meaningful supports, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
