Incorrect measurements led to exploding costs for Kilkenny weir

ENGINEERS at the Department of the Marine expressed concerns that water level measurements at a controversial Kilkenny weir made for the project by international engineering consultants Mott McDonald were incorrect before the project was given the final go-ahead, the Irish Examiner has learned.

The bill for the ill-fated Lacken weir and extended Kilkenny floodworks subsequently spiralled from €13.1 million to €48 million as cost overruns and other difficulties mounted.

Mott McDonald were asked to perform measurements for an initial proposed weir location which the OPW said were 99% correct.

However, when the location of the weir was changed the company was asked to take new measurements which proved inaccurate even after a second check.

“The Department of Marine had concerns about the downstream measurements of the water levels and asked the company to confirm them. Mott McDonald recalculated and confirmed them,” the spokesperson for the OPW said.

Although representatives from Mott McDonald declined to respond to questions last night, the Irish Examiner understands that measurements provided by the company came with a rider stipulating that responsibility for any decisions based on measurements provided was for the OPW and the Department of the Marine.

Revelations of the mistaken measurements come as local Fianna Fáil TD and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deputy chairman John McGuinness called for Mott McDonald to pay for the coast of modifications required as a result of the measurement error.

“I’ll be asking of the engineer who got it wrong whether they should have responsibility in relation to the repair work. Are we going to ask the tax payer to stump up again or will the engineering company be charged,” he said.

While a statement from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources indicated that the cost of repairs would be borne by either the OPW or Mott McDonald, an OPW spokesperson said: “If the measurements were wrong by the consultants we will be discussing that with the consultants,” he said.