People Before Profit TD for Dublin Midwest, Gino Kenny, and Cllr Madeleine Johansson have expressed outrage over the ongoing waste of public funds on projects like the recently built Dáil bike shed and South Dublin County Council’s (SDCC) plans to spend over €66,000 on brand strategy services. At a time when communities across Dublin are struggling with underfunded services, both representatives are calling for immediate changes in public spending priorities to ensure that taxpayer money is being used where it is most needed.
At a council meeting on October 14th, Cllr Madeleine Johansson had a question on the agenda about the allocation of €66,150 in the SDCC 2024 budget for “Brand Strategy Services” to align with the Council’s Corporate Plan 2025-2029. Johansson condemned this as a wasteful exercise, stating, “It is incomprehensible that South Dublin County Council is willing to spend tens of thousands on a branding strategy while essential public services like housing, healthcare, and transport remain underfunded. Public money should be spent on services that directly benefit the people who need them, not on branding exercises.”
Gino Kenny TD echoed these sentiments, criticizing not only the SDCC expenditure but also the construction of an expensive bike shed at the Dáil. He stated, “This government continues to pour money into vanity projects while families across the country struggle with the housing crisis and the cost of living. Instead of wasting public money on unnecessary projects, the focus should be on investing in much-needed services that directly impact people’s lives.” Both Kenny and Johansson are urging for a reassessment of how public funds are allocated, prioritizing critical services for communities over unnecessary branding and infrastructure projects.’
