THE CONSTRUCTION Ministry has come out ‘top’ in a chart of the most expensive websites for operational programmes co-financed from EU structural funds, according to a study published by the Conservative Institute, an NGO, on November 30.
The difference between the priciest and the cheapest website was €73,058. The most expensive website was that of the regional operational programme www.ropka.sk, procured by the Construction Ministry at a cost of €76,297 excluding VAT. Conservative Institute analyst Ivan Kuhn pointed out that these were funds paid out as a result of the controversial bulletin-board tender, the SITA newswire reported.
Moreover, Kuhn said it could not be ruled out that the Construction Ministry had also paid another company six months ago for creation of the same website.
The second most expensive website, www.nsrr.sk, was also procured by the Construction Ministry, at a cost of €74,651. According to the Conservative Institute’s information, the Construction Ministry paid two companies for the creation of this website in just one year.
On the other hand, the Health Ministry handled its funds most effectively, paying just €4,813 for two websites.
Construction Minister Igor Štefanov gave a press briefing at which he tried to defend the websites. Following his presentation of the reasons why his ministry had paid over €150,000 for four websites, he hurriedly left the news conference, preventing journalists from asking further questions.
