Contractor paid €1,000 to change three garda station lightbulbs
A contractor was paid more than €1,000 to replace three lightbulbs at a garda station, it was claimed today.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) blamed the Office of Public Works for what it branded blundering incompetence.
Michael O’Boyce, GRA president, unleashed a stinging attack on the State procurement body, claiming it has squandered public money and should be abolished.
Cases of overspending and inflated quotes for maintenance work on garda facilities were discovered in an investigation by the GRA’s accommodation sub-committee for a report to the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.
Mr O’Boyce branded the OPW “an unmitigated disaster” and blamed the department for leaving thousands of gardaí in diabolical working conditions, in overcrowded and inappropriate buildings.
“They failed to future-proof garda stations resulting in many being too small the day they opened,” he told the GRA annual conference.
“They continue to squander public money with no concept of value.”
The GRA president called on Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to bring a proposal to Government to abolish the OPW.
Meanwhile in response, the OPW rejected claims it spends public money badly and said it was “surprised and disappointed” to hear about the GRA attack.
