Costs to replace Sean Phádraic statue have reached €60,000

The cost of consultants and professionals associated with commissioning a Pádraic Ó Conaire replica statue has been criticised by a former mayor.

Galway City Council has confirmed that to date, the costs associated with the statue in Eyre Square have reached almost €60,000.

Fine Gael councillor Pádraig Conneely, who obtained the figures, said too much was being spent on consultants by the Council.

Cllr Conneely, a long-time supporter of the replica statue project, said much of the work should have been done in-house at City Hall.

“Maybe it’s time we brought back the role of City Engineer. That was done away with, and now we’re getting consultants to do everything.

“Even without a City Engineer, surely there are enough engineers and Directors of Services and employees who are more than capable of carrying out the work that is being done by consultants,” fumed Cllr Conneely.

Eileen Ruane, Acting Director of Services for Community and Culture, has confirmed in a letter to Cllr Conneely that the project to date has cost the guts of €60,000.

This includes around €45,000 to Cast Ltd (€36,750 plus VAT) for “restoration services”.

It also includes a further €6,000 to Maurice Quillinan, Fine Art Works, for “project management services for bronze replica and associated works”.

Another €2,615 for “professional engineering services in relation to reinstatement” from Harewood, Malone and O’Regan.

Some €700 was paid to Eoghan Daltun, a sculptor conservator, for “comprehensive condition report”. And another €799 was paid in solicitor fees to Blake & Kenny.

Meanwhile, in a separate response, Ms Ruane said that it cost around €4,050 for structural engineers to “carry out site suitability assessment works” at Eyre Square. The contractors appointed to do that job, following procurement, is Harewood, Malone & Regan.

That figure does not include the actual installation costs, or landscaping costs.

Cllr Conneely questioned why it was necessary to spend €4,000 on site investigation, particularly given all the amount that was spent on the revamp of Eyre Square.

“Surely to God they have any amount of reports at City Hall on the condition of the soil and what’s underground at Eyre Square. Didn’t they spend enough money on it the last time to know what is underneath?

“And why are there solicitors’ fees associated with this project? What legal advice could the Council possibly have needed to get in order to put Pádraic Ó Conaire back where he belongs? What questions did they ask the solicitors?”

Cllr Conneely said he would be requesting that the foundation of the replica statue matches the original, finished to the highest quality with Connemara marble.