Minister Helen McEntee has joined with the HSE in defending a €127,000 bike shed at University Hospital Kerry, saying that it went through proper procurement channels.
The €127,000 bike shed, described as “designer” in the Dáil, has sparked questions relating to whether or not it was signed off, amid claims from TDs that “vastly cheaper” options were available.
It’s not the first time that the Government has spent substantial sums on a bike shed – and follows €336,000 being spent on a bike shed at Leinster House and close to €100,000 being spent on one at Holles Street.
The shed, solely for staff use, which is on the grounds of the hospital in Tralee and located close to the A&E unit, has spaces for 40 bicycles, including larger cargo bikes.
During a debate on Thursday, it was claimed in the Dáil that the Government had examined options that included one at less than €7,000, one at €10,000 and another at €21,000, but the Government chose an option that was 20 times more expensive.
It comes as the HSE is to be called before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee over the cost of the bike shed. The health service on Thursday defended it as a “long-term investment.”
Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms McEntee said that the Tralee project “went through the procurement process and proper guidelines.”
“Nobody agrees with what happened here in Leinster House last year,” claimed McEntee in relation to the original bike shed scandal.
“That is why the OPW has put in place new measures and put forward changes to make sure something like that cannot happen again but the project the Deputy mentioned went through the procurement process and the proper guidelines.
“What was delivered was what was decided was needed for the hospital in the place that it was located. That is in the scheme of a €105 billion budget, with additional funding already provided for this year. We have provided €750 million to people because we know that it is needed.
“Some €100 million has been provided directly to our farmers and contractors who are quite literally providing and putting the food on our tables, and there is €100 million extra for our hauliers, who are transporting our goods, food, commodities and people across the country.”
It comes as the chair of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, John Brady, said he was “flabbergasted” by the spending.
“I think people would be rightfully shocked and horrified at this. It’s an extravagant building to put a bike in. I’m shocked and horrified, given what’s occurring within the health service.”
The revelation comes after it emerged that there has been a €250 million overspend in the HSE in the first three months of the year – with a recruitment freeze announced.
Mr Brady added: “The information to hand is there was a number of options provided to the hospital to provide an increase from the 20 bike spaces up to the 40 they deemed to be required.”
The PAC chairman said that some of the options were “as low as €6,000.”
“A decision was taken to go with the most expensive option, which is over €127,000.”
“I mean, we’ve dealt with the issue of bike sheds before the committee previously,” he said.
In an FOI response to the Kerryman newspaper, the HSE confirmed that the cost of the shed was €127,385.
In documents to the newspaper, the HSE said that the higher cost was justified.
“While Option 2 the Bespoke 40 bike enclosed bike shelter is a more costly initial investment than other options explored, it addresses crucial concerns around safety, security and accessibility, key factors encouraging more staff to commute…Its contribution to increased physical activity, reduced carbon emissions and alignment with national transport strategies justifies its higher initial cost,” it said.
It added that the previous bike shelter was a partially covered plastic space which the HSE said “lacked proper security and weather protection” and therefore “discourages cycling commuters from using the facility.”