Hill of Tara wall project
Deputy Tóibín criticises the OPW’s 14-year construction of a wall at the Hill of Tara and broader visitor-service shortcomings. The Tánaiste promises a detailed reply and cites improved governance and value-for-money procedures.
Go raibh maith agat. I have another example of the Tánaiste's Gucci Government wasting money. The Hill of Tara is one of the most important national monuments in the country. It is poorly served by the OPW in terms of an interpretive centre that is closed more than it is open and muddy paths for visitors. There is, however, a new addition. The OPW has been building the great wall of Tara and it has been building it for the past 14 years. It is an incredible length of time. Even in the context of the Government's glacial delivery of projects, 14 years must be a record. The OPW has told me it has spent €124,000 just on the materials for the wall, not including labour costs. It will not give me the labour costs. Knowing, however, that the office of posh walls spends a lot of money on labour costs, no doubt the amount is three or four times that figure. A couple of weeks ago, the Tánaiste said he was going to overhaul the OPW. Can he tell me how that is going?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy very much for the question. I will ask the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW to revert on the specific project the Deputy referenced. I will point out that the OPW has assured the Government it has taken steps to enhance its own governance procedures to ensure that value for money is achieved in the delivery of projects. The Government is committed to achieving value for money in all public infrastructure projects and our programme for Government made a commitment to ensure that the OPW "and its structures deliver best value for money outcomes on all projects" it is responsible for. The OPW has implemented enhanced governance measures since issues have arisen and has commissioned an external audit to inform further measures that may be required for projects moving forward. It will be for the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW to bring forward to Government any proposals in terms of how he is going to advance that programme for Government commitment.