A project by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to replace a deteriorating 70-metre perimeter wall at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) headquarters in Dublin ended up costing more than twice the original estimate, reaching a total of over €490,000.
The works at Lansdowne House in Ballsbridge were initially expected to cost around €200,000, excluding VAT. However, unforeseen complications, including the discovery of a high-voltage live ESB cable and a leaking water pipe, led to significant delays and escalating costs.
According to OPW figures, approximately €240,000 was spent on demolishing and rebuilding the wall, which was in line with the original estimates.
However, the additional works required to safely address the electricity cable uncovered during the project pushed the total cost up by more than €250,000.
The OPW acknowledged that the project experienced "very significant delays as well as increased costs," citing payments of €54,000 to ESB for rerouting the live wire and €61,500 to Dublin City Council to facilitate footpath and public parking closures. Additional ancillary expenses amounted to €82,200.
The OPW has come under increasing scrutiny over rising costs on various government projects. Recent examples include the construction of a bicycle shelter at Leinster House, which cost €336,000, and a security shelter at Government Buildings with a price tag of €1.4 million.
