According to figures revealed to the Irish Mirror, the Dáil’s use of the Convention Centre rather than Leinster House for sittings cost the taxpayer over €2.2 million, including a large catering bill – and the final cost may be higher again.
Since summer of 2020 it was claimed that the Dáil had to be moved to the Convention Centre because social distancing would not be possible for all 160 TDs in the Leinster House chamber. However, since January of this year the numbers allowed into the Dáil had already been capped at 45, meaning there has been at least half a year where social distancing would have been possible.
https://twitter.com/Ben_Scallan/status/1431200792736935937
Regardless, the state insisted on continuing with the eye-watering €25,000 per day arrangement.
Oireachtas sittings in the National Convention Centre are costing around €25,000 per day, mostly due to the public health precautions that are being taken https://t.co/1h58sA4LMd
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 3, 2020
According to the Irish Mirror, the cost incurred by the taxpayer ultimately totaled €2,253.907.18, including costs for fixture and fittings, catering staff services, IT and broadcasting costs. The cost was over the period from June1st 2020 to July 15th 2021.
The most substantial cost was for broadcasting, which accounted for almost €1.34 million of the total, followed by catering, which ran the taxpayer over half a million euro.
IT cost €313,000, and fixture and fitting cost €97,000. Notably, the Convention Centre did not charge the government to stay in the building.
Regardless, it was found that the final public expense may be even higher, as there are still invoices that may have yet to be paid.
The news comes as it was claimed by one TD that Leinster House itself is “falling apart” just 2 years after a €17 million refurbishment.
Follow the link below to watch a recent Gript video on the extensive financial waste of the Irish State.
Leinster House 'falling apart' two years after €17 million refurbishmenthttps://t.co/AcNw8hJprP
— DublinLive (@DublinLive) August 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/Ben_Scallan/status/1431203339757367298