Coffeys to be 'hauled over the coals' over Westside

By Dara Bradley

Senior executives representing the construction company working on the controversial Seamus Quirke Road project in Westside could be ‘hauled over the coals’ at a meeting of Galway City Council.

Former Mayor, City Councillor Pádraig Conneely has requested that City Manager Joe O’Neill invites senior  executives from Coffey Construction Ltd to come into the Council chamber to explain the delays to the completion of the project and the overspend.

The upgrade of the road to include bus lanes and cycle lanes has been dogged by controversy – it was originally due to be finished in September 2011 but eight different deadlines have been missed since and the development is not due to be fully completed until the second week of this month.

The overspending on the project is estimated to be in the region of €6 million.

Cllr Conneely, who represents the Westside area, in addition to requesting a presentation from Coffey Construction on the project, has hit out at senior management within City Hall, the lead agent for the road project.

In a statement, Cllr Conneely said the Roads and Transport Department within the Council has “reached the pinnacle of incompetence on this project”.

“It is beyond belief that a project originally costing €10 million is now running at €16.5 million for just one mile of road and the completion date is now more like a marathon. Incompetence has now become the hallmark for senior officials in Galway City Council with motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and the citizens of the city the big losers for the shambles that is the Seamus Quirke Road project,” he said.

Cllr Conneely added: “Costings and deadlines for completion are pulled from the sky on a weekly basis by senior management who continue to remain in well paid executive jobs and preside over shambolic construction projects. I have requested that the City Manager Joe O’Neill bring in senior executives from Coffey Construction to meet elected representatives of Galway City Council to explain their role in this embarrassing road project. I for one want explanations from Coffey’s on their role as a company in the cost overrun and delays in the completion of this project.”

Cllr Conneely said there was a precedent for inviting companies to the chamber to explain their role in delivering projects for the city. Last week, Head of Galway Transportation Unit, Joe Tansey, said that the Rahoon Road junction coming onto the Seamus Quirke Road will be operational by Friday, June 8.

The remainder of the road will be completed by Friday June 15, he said.