Outrage over €220,000 bill for Bertie's new Dail office
Saturday June 28 2008
THE Government has come under fire for paying €220,000 to renovate a plush new Dail office for former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
It emerged yesterday that the Office of Public Works (OPW) has spent the money on cleaning and renovating the rooms and kitting them out with furniture.
Mr Ahern had to vacate his previous office in Government Buildings when he stepped down as leader in May.
However, the huge spend has come under fire from opposition TDs, who questioned why so much money was spent on the rooms at one of the government properties close to Leinster House.
"It is astonishing that close to quarter of a million euro has been spent on a new office suite for the former Taoiseach, at a time when thousands are waiting for operations, our children are being taught in prefabs and the Taoiseach is talking about serious cutbacks," said Fine Gael finance deputy spokesman Kieran O'Donnell, adding that the decision by the OPW to spend the money is "utterly indefensible".
"How Brian Cowen can sanction this level of expenditure beggars belief. Expenditure of this kind from a government that continues to accept massive pay increases, while all around live in fear of an economic downturn, is a slap in the face.
Reprehensible
"It is reprehensible to think that a quarter of a million euro of taxpayers' money is to be spent refurbishing an office for Bertie Ahern."
However, the OPW has defended the cost of the renovations -- which took three weeks to carry out -- saying it cost the "current market rate".
A spokesman for the OPW said the figure could not be regarded as excessive.
He also said the space was used in similar circumstances in the past by other former Taoisigh Albert Reynolds and John Bruton after they stood down as leader.
The figure does not include the cost of providing extra security measures and the new suite consists of an office for Mr Ahern, one for his staff, a bathroom, a waiting room and a storage area.
Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan called on the OPW to reveal how much was spent on renovations for new offices for previous former Taoisigh.
Extravagant
"This amount of money seems way above what might be expected," he said.
Labour's spokesman on housing, Ciaran Lynch, said that while it's not unreasonable that a former Taoiseach would be given some concession for his new offices, the monies spent were "somewhat extravagant".
"For example, the figure represents almost eight times the maximum grant available to households under the Disabled Person's Grant Scheme of €30,000," he said.
"That kind of money would be enough to build a downstairs bedroom and bathroom for an elderly couple, where one or both might have a mobility difficulty.
"Investment in areas like that ensures that such people who are otherwise in good health can remain at home and retain their quality of life, being cared for in the community, rather than taking up beds in hospitals or other care facilities."
As well as his new Dail accommodation, Mr Ahern has a large office at St Luke's in Drumcondra where most of his constituency work is carried out.
Mr Ahern stepped down as Taoiseach on May 6.
