The final bill for the controversial Eyre Square Enhancement Scheme has come to €15 million - more than double what the project was originally meant to cost.
The original works were meant to cost €6.3 million but a variety of problems befell the project. Fine Gael councillor Pádraig Conneely said his concerns and criticism of renovation of the square were “totally vindicated” and he also pointed out that legal costs alone relating to Eyre Square cost €1.589 million.
Cllr Conneely will be requesting the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate how the contract ran to €15 million.
However city manager Joe O’Neill that following lenghty legal proceedings and arbitrations processes, and dsicussions a settlement has been agreed between the Galway City Council and Samuel Kingston Construction Ltd, the original contractor on the Eyre Square scheme.
Among the terms of the settlement, is that SKCL has agreeed to pay the coucnil €150,000 towards the full and final discharge of such liability as SKCL may have to GCC on account of the Supreme Court costs order awarded to the council.
