Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has spent over €660,000 to restore a historic retaining wall in Marlay Park, Dublin, a project that is six months behind schedule and €35,000 over budget. The cost of the project, known as the ‘Haha’ wall restoration, has drawn sharp criticism from local officials and stonemasons who deem the price "massively excessive" and not reflective of value for taxpayer money.

Local Independent councillor Michael Fleming described the cost as "excessive," noting it amounts to approximately €3,300 per meter for the 18th-century, 197-meter long wall. He calculated the expense to be around €50 per block, a figure local stonemasons say they would not charge. One contractor, who repairs walls in the south Dublin area, stated that the highest they would have charged per meter was €750, even when "all costs were stretched."

The original cost for the project was €625,398, which rose to €660,374.76, excluding VAT. Accounting for an approximate 23% VAT rate, the post-tax cost could potentially reach up to €820,000. The council stated that the project involves reconstruction of the historic dry-stone retaining wall, stabilization of embankments, drainage works, diversion of a stream, and culvert repairs.

The restoration effort, part of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s ‘Marlay Park Masterplan’ from 2018, began in May 2023. Delays have been attributed to sourcing appropriate stone, drainage issues, the discovery of spoil requiring a permit for removal, and damage from a storm in January 2025. The project's completion was initially anticipated for November of the previous year but was pushed back due to "wet weather" and storm impacts.

This project follows a series of recent expenditures that have raised public concern, including a €750,000 cost for steps and a ramp at Deer Park, a €127,000 bicycle shed at University Hospital Kerry, and a €336,000 bike shed at Leinster House.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council defended the project, with a spokeswoman stating that the council is "satisfied that the project is delivering the restoration and long-term protection of an important heritage asset in accordance with the approved design, conservation and procurement processes." She further detailed that the works required specialist restorative supervision.