OPW defends €1.4m security hut as breakdown of costs revealed
Cost Mechanical, Picture: Out Electrical Spent Systems Of €558,118 Boal/collins Security On That Breakdown Sam Was The The Hut A Of And The Sets
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has defended the cost of the Government Buildings security hut, saying it was built in response to Garda security advice.
It was revealed by the OPW chair on Wednesday that the security hut cost the State more than €1.4m, following a previous disclosure a bike shelter in Leinster House cost €336,000.
A breakdown of the cost of the hut sets out that €558,118 was spent on the mechanical, electrical and security systems.
These can be broken down further, with €150,282 going on security systems like CCTV, access control and presence detection. Physical security systems, such as barriers, gates, anti-ram technology and turnstiles set the OPW back €143,376.
The hut’s structure cost a total of €283,231, with the copper roof amounting to €60,280. The total building and site costs were €393,325.
The OPW also confirmed a cost of €190,169 for the temporary relocation of the security hut during the construction process. Design team fees cost the OPW a total of €121,219.
In a statement on Friday, the OPW said it acknowledged the public concern and political scrutiny over the high costs of the security hut, accepting there was “frustration and anger” over the project.
The OPW said the project was brought forward following a security review of Government Buildings by gardaí.
“The OPW, in response to the advice received from An Garda Síochána, agreed to provide a new security hub at the South Gate entrance to the Government campus,” the statement reads.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure for the essential security of the Government Buildings complex. It commenced on site in August 2023 and was completed in February 2024.”
The OPW said security at Government Buildings had become “an increasingly serious issue in recent years”, highlighting the recent incident where the gates were rammed last month.
It added there were a “significant amount of complex existing underground services that had to be rerouted” to allow the hut be constructed. It said the thickness of the roof was due to all environmental controls — heat, lighting and ventilation — being located within the ceiling.
The mechanical, electrical and security systems also required the integration into the existing Leinster House/Government Buildings systems, which includes CCTV and communications.