The estimated “excessive” cost of the new building of Cyprus’ Law Office corresponds to about €134 per office for each staff member, the Auditor General has noted in a letter.
Sent this week to the Director of the Public Works Department, Odysseas Michaelides also noted that the calculation was based on the Law Office’s budget for the year 2023. And that it also includes 193 new staff positions.
Philenews on Thursday also reports that while the Office’s organic positions are 193, the building was designed for 400 individuals and this apparently includes the future positions – if and when approved.
“We beleive there is no evidence that the total number of employees for which the Law Office building should be designed is 400, as stated in the floor space table, especially if the modern trend towards smaller office space and teleworking of staff is taken into account,” Michaelides pointed out.
“And considering that, by dividing the total estimated cost of the project – design, construction and maintenance – by the total number of officers, the capital cost including VAT amounts to €133,875 per office per staff member,” he added.
He also noted that it was easy to see the increased additional costs that the Republic is required to pay for the building, without such a need being justified.
“The number of 400 officers is considered – prima facie – as excessive,” he concluded.