Dept of Transport spent €600,000 on revamp of entrance and small plaza at Dublin headquarters
THE DEPARTMENT OF Transport spent almost €600,000 on works to revamp the front entrance and a small plaza at its headquarters on Leeson Lane in Dublin.
Figures obtained by
The Journal
show the works went €39,000 over their initial estimate, despite a 30% contingency of almost €105,000 being included in a proposed cost breakdown in 2021.
Internal documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the upgrade was requested following a security review in 2020, as well as a desire to revamp the entrance for the first time in more than 20 years.
The upgrade involved overhauling a roughly 250 square metre plaza in front of the department, the removal of an 'unsightly' 20-year-old water feature, as well as the installation of automatic doors, new lights and flagpoles.
The work was initially expected to cost €471,000 when it was proposed in 2021, but estimates grew as design plans were firmed up and the renovation got under way.
A breakdown of the initial outline costs in 2021 shows that €349,000 was budgeted for construction work, €104,940 was budgeted as a 30% contingency allowance, €61,390 was budgeted for VAT at 13.5%, while €30,000 were added for design fees and €3,500 was budgeted for art (based on a 1% value required to be set aside for such projects).
Specific costs included €70,500 for the installation of four lights on the outdoor plaza and €41,600 for landscaping and the installation of new trees.
Officials had initially proposed a contingency of 15%, but by November 2021 suggested the 30% contingency was required due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.
When the project was mostly completed in November 2023, an additional €142,295 was added to the cost to carry out additional works, including fixing a leak.
In a response to a Parliamentary Question earlier this year, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien confirmed that the final cost to the department was close to €596,000.
The outdoor plaza at the Department of Transport's headquarters
Andrew Walsh / The Journal
Andrew Walsh / The Journal / The Journal
Advertisement
'Skateboarders and loiterers'
Documents also outlined a number of reason why the work was requested, including a need to 'discourage skateboarders and loiterers' and remove an 'ugly eyesore' in front of the building.
A briefing written in January 2021 cited a security review that said the front and side doors could not be 'immediately locked down in the event that protestors swarmed the entrance'.
It also said that a new arrangement meant that the side door of the department was left open from time to time.
'The delivery of goods to the building often means that side door is jammed open for ease of delivery,' a department official said.
'This is both a security risk and is creating a draughty environment for our services officers, so has become a health and wellbeing issue.'
The author of the briefing also justified the revamp by citing the effects of people drinking take away pints at the department's plaza as a result of the pandemic.
'They are also using our laneway as an outdoor toilet. The remaining rubbish left behind is also an issue and we have increased our cleaning arrangements to meet this,' they said.
The briefing asked whether fencing could be installed at the perimeter walls to prevent them being used as seating areas, noting: 'I've seen cement ball installations in Howth to deter car parking, so something like that might work?'
There was also a complaint about 'evening visits' from skateboarders using the area to 'practice their skills', adding: 'All very well until someone hurts themselves there in some way.'
On foot of this, they requested 'options for a less flat/angular appearance to discourage skateboarders and loiterers'.
The briefing also noted that a former water feature at the front of the plaza had 'become an ugly eyesore', and that the flag poles 'are very high and poorly lit'.
The work was later approved and completed in 2023.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
World Bank slashes global growth forecast as trade tensions bite
The World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by 0.4 percentage point to 2.3%, saying that higher tariffs and heightened uncertainty posed a "significant headwind" for nearly all economies. In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the bank lowered its forecasts for nearly 70% of all economies -including the United States, China and Europe, as well as six emerging market regions - from the levels it projected just six months ago before US President Donald Trump took office. PresidentTrump has upended global trade with a series of on-again, off-again tariff hikes that have increased the effective US tariff rate from below 3% to the mid-teens - its highest level in almost a century - and triggered retaliation by China and other countries. The World Bank is the latest body to cut its growth forecast as a result of President Trump's erratic trade policies, although US officials insist the negative consequences will be offset by a surge in investment and still-to-be approved tax cuts. The bank stopped short of forecasting a recession, but said global economic growth this year would be its weakest outside of a recession since 2008. By 2027, global gross domestic product growth was expected to average just 2.5%, the slowest pace of any decade since the 1960s. The report forecast that global trade would grow by 1.8% in 2025, down from 3.4% in 2024 and roughly a third of its 5.9% level in the 2000s. The forecast is based on tariffs in effect as of late May, including a 10% US tariff on imports from most countries. It excludes increases announced by PresidentTrump in April and then postponed until July 9 to allow for negotiations. The bank said global inflation was expected to reach 2.9% in 2025, remaining above pre-COVID levels, given tariff increases and tight labor markets. "Risks to the global outlook remain tilted decidedly to the downside," the bank wrote. It said its models showed that afurther 10-percentage point increase in average US tariffs, on top of the 10% rate already implemented, and proportional retaliation by other countries, could shave another 0.5 percentage point off the outlook for 2025. Such an escalation in trade barriers would result "in globa ltrade seizing up in the second half of this year ... accompanied by a widespread collapse in confidence, surging uncertainty andturmoil in financial markets," the report said. Nonetheless, it said the risk of a global recession was less than 10%. 'FOG ON A RUNWAY' Top officials from the United States and China are meeting in London this week to try to defuse a trade dispute that has widened from tariffs to restrictions over rare earth minerals, threatening a global supply chain shock and slower growth. "Uncertainty remains a powerful drag, like fog on a runway. It slows investment and clouds the outlook," World Bank Deputy Chief Economist Ayhan Kose told Reuters in an interview. But he said there were signs of increased dialogue on trade that could help dispel uncertainty, and supply chains were adapting to a new global trade map, not collapsing. Global trade growth could see a modest rebound in 2026 to 2.4%, and developments in artificial intelligence could also boost growth, he said. "We think that eventually the uncertainty will decline," he said. "Once the type of fog we have lifts, the trade engine may start running again, but at a slower pace." Kose said while things could get worse, trade was continuing and China, India and others were still delivering robust growth. Many countries were also discussing new trade partnerships that could pay dividends later, he said. US GROWTH FORECAST CUT SHARPLY The World Bank said the global outlook had "deteriorated substantially" since January, mainly due to advanced economies, now seen growing by just 1.2%, down half a point, after expanding 1.7% in 2024. The US forecast was slashed by 0.9 percentage point from its January forecast to 1.4%, and the 2026 outlook was lowered by 0.4 percentage point to 1.6%. Rising trade barriers,"record-high uncertainty" and a spike in financial market volatility were expected to weigh on private consumption, trade and investment, it said. Growth estimates in the euro area were cut by 0.3 percentagepoint to 0.7% and in Japan by 0.5 percentage point to 0.7%. It said emerging markets and developing economies were expected to grow by 3.8% in 2025 versus 4.1% in January's forecast. Poor countries would suffer the most, the report said. By 2027 developing economies' per capita GDP would be 6% belowpre-pandemic levels, and it could take these countries - minus China - two decades to recoup the economic losses of the 2020s. Mexico, heavily dependent on trade with the U.S., saw its growth forecast cut by 1.3 percentage points to 0.2% in 2025. The World Bank left its forecast for China unchanged at 4.5% from January, saying Beijing still had monetary and fiscal space to support its economy and stimulate growth.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Strong sales across retail and pharmacy business see revenue at Boots' Irish arm top €580m
Strong sales performances across both retail and pharmacy segments saw revenue at the Irish arm of Boots rise by almost 10% in 2024. Newly filed accounts by Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd show the company's revenue rose to more than €580m in the 12 months to August 2024, underpinned by strong sales across its business operations, which helped partially offset a rise in administrative and distribution costs. The company, which now operates 95 stores across the Republic following the opening of a new outlet last year, saw its operating profit rise by more than 3% in the year, increasing to almost €40m. Revenues from the retailer's pharmacy business, which accounts for 12.6% of its total sales, rose by more than 10% in the 12 months, largely helped by volume growth deriving from Government schemes and service growth due to the rise in demand for vaccine services. Meanwhile, its retail business, which comprises the remaining 87.4% of the company's total sales, rose my 9.6% in the same period, underpinned by strong growth in online sales. The firm recorded an after-tax profit of €31.4m, up by more than 5% annually, after incurring a corporation tax charge of €6.3m. The average number of full-time employees working across Boots' Irish division rose slightly to 1,668, up from 1,630 in the previous 12 months, with total staff costs in the period rising by 7% to €77.2m. Remuneration paid to directors last year rose marginally to €1.05m, with the highest paid director receiving €491,000, made up of €352,000 in pay, €103,000 under long-term incentive schemes and €36,000 in pension contributions. Noting the series of risks facing the business, the report cited global cost pressures which have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, leading to "high inflation rates in the Republic of Ireland and globally." The director's added that the impact of Brexit on the business had stablilised, although management "continues to monitor any further developments." Shareholders' equity in the 12 months increased by 1.2% following a decrease in 2023, rising to €134.5m as a result of higher after-tax profit which was partially offset by the dividend paid in the year of almost €30m.
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
World's tallest skyscraper that was set to dwarf Burj Khalifa before being left as an abandoned hole to FINALLY be built
A VAST tower in Dubai that was once planned to be the world's new tallest building could soon finally be built. The Dubai Creek Tower was once envisaged as a colossus that would even dwarf that city's famous Burj Khalifa. 6 A rendering of The Tower at Dubai Creek Credit: Emaar Properties 6 The tower would have dwarfed the Burj Khalifa Credit: Emaar Properties 6 Its original design would have seen it stand at a staggering 4,300ft tall - far higher than the Burj Khalifa (2,722ft). Announced in 2016 along with an eyewatering $1 billion investment, the massive observation tower was designed to echo the look of Islamic minarets. It was planned to be completed by 2020 - knocking the Burj Khalifa off its top spot as world's tallest structure. But the already delayed project ground to a halt during the COVID pandemic, leaving its future uncertain. read more in world news The construction site has sat abandoned for some time now, leaving a simple foundation pit where the world's new tallest tower was meant to stand. But after years of waiting, developer Emaar Properties is now set to breathe new life into the project. The company is shelling out $3.81 billion to develop the Dubai Creek Tower and its neighbouring mall, If completed as originally planned, the observation tower would boast a sky garden and 20 occupied floors with lavish hotels and restaurants. Most read in The US Sun However, there's a chance it might not challenge the Burj Khalifa's long-held title after all. The Dubai Creek Tower has undergone redesigns while work was on halt, according to the Economic Times. Dubai hotel with world's largest waterpark While no official blueprints have been made public yet, it is believed the redesign will see the tower's proposed height substantially reduced. Despite the promise of new life for the project, it is still unclear exactly when the Dubai Creek Tower will be completed. Dubai is nevertheless home to many of the world's tallest buildings. The Burj Khalifa was completed in 2009, beating Taiwan's Taipei 101 to the title of world's tallest building. It is now one of the most recognisable buildings in the world as Dubai's profile as a futuristic megacity continues to grow. Dubai's megaprojects Dubai has grown rapidly from humble roots into a vast futuristic city boasting some of the world's tallest buildings Here are some of the most ambitious projects the city has seen: Burj Khalifa The Burj Khalifa is now one of the world's most famous buildings, having been the planet's tallest structure since the late 2000s. More than 15 years later, it still holds that title. Standing at more than half a mile tall, it has more than 150 floors. Dubai Reefs Not content to only take the title of world's tallest building, Dubai also plans to host the world's largest artificial reef. The planned project would cover 200 square kilometres and feature more than 1 billion corals. It is intended to be both a major marine research hub and an ecotourism attraction. Ciel Dubai Marina Dubai also plans to have the world's tallest stand-alone hotel. This massive tower would feature a more than 1,000 rooms spread across 82 floors. Dubai Creek Tower Even successfully completing the world's tallest building wasn't enough to stop Dubai trying to break its own records. The Dubai Creek Tower would have been the world's tallest structure if completed as planned, dwarfing the Burj Khalifa. While it's unclear if it will still take the new record, it's another example of the scale of ambition shown by the city. The Dubai Creek Tower is not the only challenger to the Burj Khalifa to have hit setbacks in development. Saudi Arabia hopes to build the first kilometre high skyscraper with the Construction on this gargantuan structure ground to a halt after key figures connected to it were arrested in 2017 - with COVID only pushing it back further. It is now But Saudi Arabia is in a race to complete the first kilometre-high tower. Egypt is currently building a The staggeringly tall Oblisco Capitale is planned to sit right in the middle of the new city's central business district. 6 The Dubai Creek Tower has undergone redesigns while work was on halt Credit: Emaar Properties 6 Panoramic view of the Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa Credit: Getty 6 Emaar Properties is now set to breathe new life into the project Credit: Emaar Properties
