The Minister for State with responsibility for the OPW orders review of the project.The Office of Public Works has tonight defended the high costs of providing 32 bicycle parking spaces with a shelter on the grounds of Leinster House. In earlier media reports, the structure was described as a bicycle shed, but it is actually a bicycle shelter it resembles a long bus stop shelter with bicycle racks under it. The high cost of a new 335k bicycle parking shelter at Leinster House was revealed today in articles by freelance journalist Ken Foxe. He was told that scoping documentation was prepared as the planning application for the work cannot be released for security reasons.The OPW confirmed tonight that a breakdown of the cost of the bicycle parking and associated works includes 283,949.59 for construction and installation, 10,816.52 for Contract Admin Services, and 38,333 for re-charge VAT.Nearly 3k was also spent on archaeological services, including 1,968 for a monitoring report and two amounts of 492 for a licence application and method and archaeological monitoring.RTE and other media outlets reported earlier today that Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is shocked at the cost and questioned the high cost. This was following his previous praise of the project as an example of public sector climate action. The Department of Transport has yet to respond to questions from this website about whether Minister Ryan was previously aware of the cost of the bicycle parking.RTE also reported that the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, told the broadcaster that the issue was a matter for the Oireachtas. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission not the Government are responsible for matters relating to the running of the parliament building and its grounds.However, the OPW confirmed tonight that the Minister of State responsible for the Office of Public Works, Kieran ODonnell, has requested his officials to carry out an immediate full review of the project.The Office of Public Works (OPW), which manages State buildings, said that the project was procured via a framework agreement and complies with public procurement and planning guidelines. The OPW added that it recognises the importance of ensuring that public money is spent transparently.It contains 18 racks, known as Sheffield stands, each of which can hold two bicycles, giving the unit a capacity of 36 bicycles.In a statement released tonight, the Office of Public Works said that it acknowledges the recent discussions in relation to the costs associated with the construction of a bicycle shelter in Leinster House.It said that in May 2021 that it was requested by the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas toprovide a visible, covered bicycle shelter for the Houses of the Oireachtas on Leinster Lawn, on the Merrion square side of Leinster House. It said: That Part 9 Planning process was lodged during October 2022 and granted during November 2022.The OPW said that its planning application outlined how the bicycle shelter was to have no material impact on the historic fabric of Leinster House, the adjoining National Gallery or historic elements in Leinster Lawn.The statement said: The contractor was appointed during December 2023. The works commenced in early January 2024 with excavation works and continued through to March 2024 with construction of the steel and glass structure and putting in place the granite paving. Final works were completed by mid-April 2024.It added: Located within the setting of Leinster House, a protected structure of national importance, the construction of the bike shelter involved several unique challenges. The structure consists of a steel framed, glazed canopy to ensure long term durability. The materials used, including Irish granite, glass and steel were carefully selected not only for their durability, but also for their compatibility with the historic setting of our national parliament.IMAGE: The bicycle racks have been placed to the right of the Google Earth image, where there was car parking beside the wall of the National Gallery building.

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Existing bicycle parking removed from more popular Kildare St side of Leinster House. New bicycle parking is seen as exposed to the elements and poorly located.A user of the 335k parking structure for 36 bicycles at Leinster House said that while people who cycle to the parliament which includes not just politicians but also staff wanted a basic covered bicycle shelter, what was provided is a white elephant that will damage the cause of trying to deliver active travel infrastructure across the country.As IrishCycle.com reported last night, the Office of Public Works (OPW) issued a statement defending the cost of the bicycle parking while confirming that the Minister of State responsible for the OPW, Kieran ODonnell, has requested his officials to carry out an immediate full review of the project.According to a number of sources, after the new bicycle parking was added to the Merrion Square side of Leinster House, existing bicycle racks were removed from the more popular Kildare Street side. This has caused issues because the Kildare Street side remains the more popular side with over 430 metres to go around the block to the Merrion Square entrance, including along some cycling-unfriendly one-way roads. Meanwhile, existing bicycle parking stands on the Merrion Square side are more popular than the new 335k bicycle parking because the existing parking is more conveniently located. Before making a more serious point, Cathal McCann, political director at theLabourParty, joked: My bike was enjoying its new deluxe home in Leinster House until it was plastered all over RTE News this evening.On Twitter, he continued: In all seriousness though, its not even properly sheltered, so no idea how it cost 335k even if it included other groundworks or the e-car chargers beside it? The new shelter is a decent distance from the side door a lot of staff enter by, so many still use the bike stands beside Merrion Street gate.The OPWs breakdown of costs, both the version provided to the original Freedom of Information request and the one listed in their statement last night, do not include the cost of e-car changers. McCann said that some bicycle parking has been removed on the Kildare Street side of Leinster House, the main entrance to the building, and now the bicycle parking on that side is often overcrowded now even during the quieter summertime.He added: What most of us who cycle into Leinster House have been asking for over many years are bike stands located beside or close to the entrances, preferably covered. Instead, we got a white elephant that will damage the cause of trying to deliver active travel infrastructure across the country.