OPW must take control of National Children’s Science Centre amid spiraling costs, says McAuliffe

Paul McAuliffe, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North West and Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, welcomed the publication of the Interim Report on the National Children’s Science Centre at the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.

The recommendation in today’s report outlines a significant number of long-running governance, funding and accountability issues surrounding the project, while its future and plan of construction have been left in a state of limbo as costs have continued to “spiral.”

Commenting on the report, the Dublin North-West TD said “this project, which is yet to see a shovel in the ground has come at a substantial cost to the taxpayer. Significant public money has been spent on arbitration fees and other administrative and legal costs for a project that doesn’t yet exist.”

The report notes that in May 2024, the Office of Public Works (OPW) estimated the total construction cost of the National Children’s Science Centre would amount to €70.4 million.”

“The report also notes that more than €4.27 million has been spent to date on legal fees, consultancy, surveys and related project costs.

McAuliffe dubbed the fees “an astronomical waste of public money.”

Recommendation three of the report, outlines that the OPW, DPER and other relevant Departments should engage directly and as a matter of priority with representatives of the National Children’s Science Centre with a view to identifying a way forward for the project or a way to end any commitment to the project while minimising any cost to the State.

“In previous Committee appearances, I highlighted that the only way this project can proceed is for all parties to come together and work through the issue at hand. Without that crucial step, there is no clear path forward,” he said.

“I visited the proposed site of the project, beside the National Concert Hall, earlier this year. There is an entire building currently sitting vacant which raises additional questions,” McAuliffe said.