Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has said that the Chair of the Office of Public Works should come before the Oireachtas Finance Committee to discuss the exorbitant cost of the Leinster House bike shelter.
Teachta Conway-Walsh said:
“Before the Oireachtas rose for the summer, I requested that the Chair of the OPW come before the Joint Oireachtas Finance Committee to discuss a number of issues relating to public works and expenditure.
“Since then, the revelations around the cost of the Leinster House bike shelter have proven just how important such a session would be. People are rightly concerned about what this matter says about accountability for public money.
“The Finance Committee will now have an opportunity on Wednesday 25th September to discuss ‘Matters relating to the construction of the Bike Shelter installed in Leinster House’. It is crucial that this session takes place so that there can be a full discussion of these issues.
“The public are rightly appalled that this government has stood over the colossal cost for construction of a very basic bicycle shed.
“€336,000 for a bike shelter is not only an utter waste of taxpayers’ money, it also shows just how out of touch this government is with the reality of everyday living costs for the rest of our citizens.
“It is particularly galling for people in rural Ireland who beg for bus shelters to shield them from the wind and the rain. They feel badly let down by this government’s total failure to provide basic infrastructure.
“Fine Gael like to claim that they are fiscally prudent. However, time and time again this is exposed as mere spin and bluster as they oversee major misspending of public money. They have not only built the most expensive bike shed in the world but are also building the most expensive hospital in the world.
“Sinn Féin is on the side of ordinary people who are struggling to make ends meet. That’s why we have brought forward policies to cut the cost of housing and childcare – measures which will make a real difference to people’s lives. That is also why we are determined to ensure accountability for tax payers’ money, to ensure that there is transparency and people can have confidence in how their taxes are spent by government.”
