Clare council asked about EUR1.6m spent on HQ

Members of Clare County Council yesterday called on the executive to justify payments of €1.59 million to consultants and security firms for work on the council's stalled plan to establish a new €32 million headquarters.

Four years ago the council announced it was to transform Our Lady's Psychiatric Hospital into its new headquarters after paying €1.14 million for the building and 30 acres of land outside Ennis.

However, the financially strapped local authority has already paid 140 per cent of the purchase price to consultants and security firms.

In response to a freedom-of-information request from The Irish Times, Clare County Council revealed it had spent €1.59 million on the project so far, with most of the money going to consultants who drew up plans for the new headquarters

In the breakdown provided by the council, the "design team" employed to advance the planning application cost €1.37 million, with Murray O'Laoire & Associates Architects, the largest recipients, getting €0.67 million.

A council spokesman said yesterday that it has been necessary to provide 24-hour security for the building to obtain insurance because since the building was vacated by the Mid-Western Health Board, Traveller families had established illegal encampments on the site.

The council had paid €186,969 so far on security. Sheehan Group Security had received €88,361 and Security Services, Ennis, €68,840. A full-time council employee was also being paid €29,767 to provide security.

The leader of the majority Fianna Fáil group in the council, Mr P.J. Kelly, said yesterday: "I am utterly dismayed that substantially more money has been spent on consultants than on the cost of the building. It is like buying a cottage in the country for €100,000 and paying consultants €120,000 to tell you what to do with it."

Ms Patricia McCarthy (Ind) yesterday expressed concern at the expenditure, saying that the project "cannot become a bottomless pit, swallowing money with no end in sight".

Mr Christy Curtin (Ind) called for a complete breakdown of the costs paid to consultants and security firms.

"The figure is quite significant given the current budgetary situation the council is facing," he said.