COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2025

QUESTION NO. 38

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive to issue a breakdown report into any cost incurred in over runs on Council Capital projects for the last 12 months?

REPLY:

All capital construction projects undertaken by SDCC, and all other local authorities and state bodies, are subject to the terms and conditions of the public works contracts and are carried out in accordance with the capital works management framework.

Strict cost management of capital projects is undertaken by SDCC’s internal and consultant quantity surveyors and while overall projected costs for all construction contracts are agreed prior to entering into contract, variations to the contract are usual and regular with contractual clauses allowing additional costs to be accounted for in circumstances such as where additional works are requested by the council, unforeseen requirements arise or changes in building regulations occur etc.

In the event of claims for additional costs and/or time by contractors, these are assessed by our quantity surveyors to determine whether the claim is justified under the contract, represents value for money and is in accordance with tendered rates, with cost negotiation undertaken where appropriate to achieve best possible value.  Claims not agreed can be referred to conciliation (not binding) and then to arbitration (binding) if necessary for a determination to be made, with any cost increases subject to approval within the council’s corporate governance framework.  When the above steps are completed and costs are agreed the contract sum is adjusted to reflect the increased cost and this is then regarded as an approved change order to the contract resulting in a revised contract sum.  All additional costs to contracts must go through this process and be recommended for acceptance by the employer’s representative for the project.

In light of the strict cost control practices outlined above, the County Architect confirms that there are no unsubstantiated or unapproved costs incurred on capital projects under SDCC’s remit.