Sir, – May I suggest that proposed future infrastructure projects be instructed to provide cost estimates in terms of bicycle shed units? Thus the children’s hospital estimate would be 6,865 NBS (National Bicycle Shed units), a much less offensive number than the current €2.3 billion being currently discussed. – Yours, etc,
Dr ROBERT D NOLAN,
Alderley Edge,
Cheshire, UK.
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Sir, – In the introduction to his authoritative An Outline of European Architecture, Nikolaus Pevsner wrote: “A bicycle shed is a building; Lincoln Cathedral is a piece of architecture . . . the term architecture applies only to buildings designed with a view to aesthetic appeal.”
Does the Leinster House bike shed require us to reappraise Pevsner’s time-honoured dictum? – Yours, etc,
PAUL KEOGH,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Sounds like “dynamic pricing” is impacting bike sheds now. – Yours, etc,
HELEN NOONAN,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – In December 2019, The Irish Times carried a report that the cost of the new Dáil printer, too large to fit its designated home, was now set to rise from a projected €1.6 million to “just over €2 million” (“Cost of Dáil printer that was too big for room rises above €2m”, News, December 11th).
Among the extra expenses were storage of the printing press for €14,760, outsourcing costs of €100,000, and costs incurred by the Office of Public Works of €221,325. “Building costs to the Oireachtas”, presumably incurred by accommodating this larger than expected beast, had already added €314,453. All of this was apparently unforeseen.
If only that yoke had been a 3D printer.
Then, presumably, it would have been capable of turning out the Leinster House bike shed at a fraction of the reported €336,000. And all the bike sheds the “new” National Children’s Hospital will eventually need too. – Yours, etc,
LIAM STENSON,
Galway.
Sir, – To save on costs, the inquiry into the Leinster House bike shed should be held in tandem with another inquiry. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN AHERN,
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – All around Sweden are high quality, modern, stylish, functional, fully enclosed bike sheds of various designs that cost a fraction of the price. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET SHEERAN,
Gothenburg,
Sweden.
Sir, – Was the price not agreed before the building work started? – Yours, etc,
CLAIRE WALSH,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – When the Pope visited Ireland and celebrated Mass at Killineer, near Drogheda in 1979, bicycle sheds, toilets and various other facilities were erected at Killineer for the 250,000-plus attendees. These were later disassembled and some parts of the structures were donated to St Peter’s National School in Drogheda town.
Resourceful parents came together to build a play-shed in the school grounds. No cost was involved and the shed still stands after 45 years. – Yours, etc,
BOBBY RUSK,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Adding together the 160 TDs, 60 senators and 650 other staff working in the Houses of the Oireachtas, that makes 870 commuters. Furthermore, there will be many visitors to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
It says much about our politicians’ view of the climate crisis that catering for 18 bicycles is deemed sufficient for the above numbers. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN TREACY,
Drumree,
Co Meath.
Sir, – Many years ago, with no experience in construction, I built a fine concrete house for my pet labrador dog, complete with insulated wooden floor.
He loved it, and although the dog has sadly long since expired, his house still stands proudly as a monument to my construction skills.
I am now determined to come out of retirement to tender for the OPW’s next major bike shed construction project. – Yours, etc,
PJ McDERMOTT,
Westport,
Co Mayo.
A chara, – No prizes for guessing which party will be the fall guy for the bicycle shed pantomime when the voters go to the polls.
It looks like the Government’s tricycle will soon require a new mudguard. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Hollywood,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – As amusing as the letters in The Irish Times are about the “Shed”, I wonder on a more serious note how many cataract procedures for older people having to go to Belfast for the same could have been carried out in hospitals here for €336,000? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN BYRNE,
Bantry,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Dr Edward Harty asks whether the Leinster Hose bike shed might accommodate the Dáil printer as well as bikes (Letters, September 5th).
Might there also be room for the ill-fated electronic voting machines – another governmental extravagance from yesteryear? – Yours, etc,
JOHN NAUGHTON,
Leopardstown,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – The newest addition to Dáil Éireann’s architecture finally explains the meaning of the phrase “a shedload of money”. – Yours, etc,
GERARD FARRELLY,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.