Looks like it's open on 3 sides. Imagine the cost if they had to build a few walls as well 
Photo from The Journal
This is the guy responsible for the shelter:
Former head of the OPW, and current president of Engineers Ireland.
https://x.com/oconnellhugh/status/1832705144695247337https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/office-of-public-works-paid-for-retiring-bosss-paris-study-trips-grz5msjfbState paid for retiring Office of Public Works boss’s Paris study trips
Taxpayer footed the bill of over €35,000 for agency’s former chairman to attend a business school in Paris less than a year before he retired
Claire Scott, Political Correspondent
Sunday September 08 2024, 12.01am BST, The Sunday Times
Ireland
The OPW paid €1,660.60 in 2023 for Maurice Buckley’s transport, accommodation and subsistence costs over five days
The OPW paid €1,660.60 in 2023 for Maurice Buckley’s transport, accommodation and subsistence costs over five days
ORLA MURRAY/COALESCE
The state paid more than €35,000 for the former Office of Public Works (OPW) chairman to attend a prestigious business school in Paris less than a year before he retired.
Maurice Buckley, who was at the helm of the OPW when the €336,000 Leinster House bicycle shelter was approved, attended an 18-day executive course over three visits between 2022 and 2023.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (Dpendr) and the Office of Public Works split the €33,718 cost of the course. His flights and expenses were also paid.
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Buckley’s term as chairman came to an end on April 19 this year. The OPW said the cost would have been value for money if Buckley, who now describes himself on his LinkedIn account as self-employed, had continued working in the state sector.
According to figures released to The Sunday Times under freedom of information laws, the OPW paid €1,660.60 in 2023 for Buckley’s transport, accommodation and subsistence for his five-day trip on May 7-12, 2023.
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While the OPW told The Sunday Times that the course was a “fully approved investment that was sanctioned by Dpendr/senior public service team”, Dpendr has denied this. It said its role at the time was to make contributions to the cost of leadership development programmes and, as Buckley was the head of his department, he could approve his own training. Dpendr said: “The decision to participate in any training programme is a matter for the relevant department and the relevant secretary-general, in this case the chairman of the OPW.”
Buckley attended the course at Insead for nine days in November 2022 and five days in February 2023, but his expenses for these trips are not yet available. Asked why the OPW had approved an overseas course for a chairman who was retiring, a spokeswoman said: “It was envisaged at the time the programme was sanctioned and undertaken by the former chairman that he was likely to have continued involvement in the state sector potentially on state boards and committees following the conclusion of his term of office. In such circumstances the investment in the programme would continue to be of value to the state.”
Asked why a leadership programme at an Irish college or university was not considered suitable, the OPW said: “We are seeking clarification on this.”
Insead is one of the world’s leading business schools, with campuses in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Fontainebleau, just outside Paris. Buckley was contacted for comment.
