Construction of 14 steps and ramp for Dublin park cost over €750k

The construction of 14 steps and a ramp as part of a new entrance to a south Dublin park ended up costing over €750,000.

The Irish Times reported that the final bill was €500,000 above the original estimated cost.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) said the cost of the project at Deer Park in Mount Merrion represented “a significant increase over the initial cost estimates” provided by a local authority for the project.

The Irish Times reported in November that the works, which involved the building of 14 steps and a ramp at Deer Park, had cost a total of €753,500, including VAT.

Documents released by the NTA under the Freedom of Information Act show that at one point in 2024, there were indications in a report submitted by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council that the development could cost up to €935,200, including VAT.

The National Transport Authority said this figure set out in a cost report was “a potential estimate” and was not realised.

The park at Mount Merrion is run by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which developed the project, but funding was provided by the NTA.

The State agency said in a subsequent statement that the original construction cost estimate for the project was €200,000 in a grant application form submitted by the local authority in 2023.

The documents stated that at the time, the existing entrance to Deer Park from North Avenue was via steps, and that this was not suitable for people with a mobility impairment, cyclists, or those with buggies or pushchairs.

The documents also state that it was proposed to construct a ramp and replace existing steps to improve accessibility between the park and the adjacent primary school and local church.