Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 27 November 2025

Public Accounts Committee

Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts 2024
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024
Chapter 5 - Development of a Proposed National Science Centre
Chapter 6 - The OPW's Management of Office Accommodation

2:00 am

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)

Mr. Conlon might provide us with a note with that information.

I know Mr. Conlon came into the organisation over a year ago. It is probably a challenging time for him, given there has been much misuse of taxpayers' money. Members have alluded to some of the issues, such as €1.3 million for a security hut; €336,000 for a bike shed; the wall at the WRC that cost €490,000; the children's museum with an exposure of €70 million and rising; the retirement function of the previous chair, which cost over €750,000, of which over €600,000 has been repaid; and nearly €35,000 spent on the leadership course by the previous chair when he was due to retire. For me and, I am sure, many people watching this, this seems to have gone on forever. It seems to me that there was a blasé approach to spending taxpayers' money within the organisation. Does Mr. Conlon think there was a blasé approach? What was the culture within the organisation when he took over?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.