Minister demands full review of €336,000 spend on shelter for 18 bikes at Leinster House

Minister of State with Responsibility for the Office of Public Works Kieran O’Donnell has asked officials to carry out a full review of the cost of building the structure for use by TDs, staff and visitors on the historically sensitive grounds.

Yesterday, the Taoiseach and the Transport Minister both said that the public should get value for money as it emerged the Office for Public Works (OPW) spent €336,000 on building the bike shelter to store 18 bikes.

The shelter, which was initially hailed by the Green Party minister Eamon Ryan as a good example of public sector climate action, required archaeological advice to make sure it fit in at the parliamentary complex.

Mr Ryan said on Monday he looks forward to hearing from the OPW why the shelter cost so much, saying it seemed “incredibly expensive”.

Asked about the cost of the bike shelter on Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “I’ve no knowledge or information about the bike shed, but I think it’s very important that…