Written Answers Nos. 471-485
471. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated annual cost of developing and delivering the collaborative storage facility or memory story proposed by an organisation (details supplied) over a ten-year period. [40508/22]
View answerThe Department is unable to answer the question for the reasons that it does not come under the remit of OPW.
472. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated capital cost of building, restoring and renovating arts centres across the State with no increase on the 2022 allocation and if the allocation were increased by €5 million, by €7.5 million and by €10 million. [40512/22]
View answerThe OPW has no role in building, restoring and renovating arts centres. This function rests with Local Authorities, the D/Culture Arts Tourism Sport Gaeltacht and Media and the Arts Council.
473. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the pandemic bonus payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40620/22]
View answer474. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the pandemic bonus payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40621/22]
View answer486. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the pandemic bonus payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40968/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 473, 474 and 486 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, many workers went above and beyond over the course of the last two very challenging years. Their continued contribution has been essential to getting us through this difficult time.
After careful consideration, the Government made decisions earlier this year in relation to recognition of these efforts. A national day of recognition and commemoration to recognise the contribution of all workers across the economy was held on 18 March this year. Furthermore, an additional permanent public holiday will be in place from next year.
The Government took many factors into consideration when coming to a decision in relation to any additional recognition measure for specific sectors and workers. It was agreed that it would be appropriate to further acknowledge the contribution of those working in certain clinical healthcare settings, whilst also recognising all workers with the public holiday. Overall, this is a balanced package of measures that benefits workers across the economy.
The detailed administrative arrangements and terms and conditions associated with the additional measure for certain healthcare workers are matters for my colleague the Minister for Health.
475. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans to scale up the retrofitting of social housing as part of cost-of-living measures planned for Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40635/22]
View answerThe allocation of resources to retrofitting of social housing, as with all lines of expenditure, will be examined as part of the 2023 Estimates process, with the breakdown published in the Expenditure Report.
476. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the selection of a contractor for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; the length of time that he envisages that this process will take; if he will give assurances that selection will be completed as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40720/22]
View answerThe Glashaboy River Flood Relief Scheme at Glanmire / Sallybrook, Cork is being progressed by Cork City Council. The Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork City Council are engaging proactively to progress the flood relief scheme for Glanmire.
The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme at Glanmire / Sallybrook, Cork was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995. The scheme is being funded from the €1.3 billion in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030, as part of Project Ireland 2040. Provision for the total project budget for this scheme is included in the Office of Public Works multi annual capital allocation. The Office of Government Procurement Inflation/Supply Chain Delay Co-operation Framework Agreement, published on 20th May 2022 will help address the appropriate inflationary costs.
The Glashaboy River Flood Relief Scheme will protect 103 properties from a significant risk of flooding.
There is currently a procurement process underway to appoint a contractor for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme. As the procurement process is ongoing it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment.
477. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 28 April 2022 (details supplied), when his Department will next advertise a tender for the transport of patients for appointments and dialysis in the north Tipperary area of the HSE mid-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40726/22]
View answerMy officials in the Office of Government Procurement have no governance role relating to the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) procurement activities. The tender in question and its timing are operational matters for the HSE as the contracting authority. The Office of Government Procurement is engaged by public bodies by submitting a formal Procurement Service Request (PSR), which provides the details of such the proposed procurement project. In the event that such a request for procurement support for this requirement is received, my officials will endeavour to provide assistance, schedule and resources allowing.
478. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of works at Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, County Cork. [40731/22]
View answerThe Works plan for 2022 is to complete grouting the external walls on the South and East of Barryscourt Castle and there is good progress in this regard. It is envisaged that there will still be masonry repairs at a high level to the towers and wall walks but it is thought that these works will not interfere with progressing necessary internal works.
The next phase of works includes the design of new mechanical and electrical systems which has commenced but will need to be tendered and executed.
The Office of Public Works is very conscious that Barryscourt Castle has been unavailable to visitors and the local community for the last number of years. I have asked my officials in the National Monuments division to work on a re-opening plan for the site and I would hope progress will be made in this matter over the coming months. However, it is not possible to give a definitive date for reopening at this stage due to the complexity of the ongoing conservation works.
479. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of projects currently being funded across Cork city and county in tabular form by financial value and name. [40732/22]
View answerIn my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at a Departmental level. Decisions on how and where those allocations are invested by Departments are a matter, in the first instance, for my ministerial colleagues. Management and delivery of the individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.
You will appreciate that the key role of promoting and leading development at county level rests with the relevant local authority. Under the umbrella of Project Ireland 2040, Government has allocated capital funding behind the national priorities set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF), thereby, providing clarity to stakeholders as to the linkage between the increasing capital resource envelope and national policy principles.
Under the NPF, the three Regional Assemblies are now responsible for co-ordinating, promoting and supporting the strategic planning and sustainable development of their regions, consistent with the objectives of the NPF, through the preparation of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES). The strategy for the Southern Region provides the opportunity for the priorities for Cork city and county to be integrated into a regional investment plan.
I might also add that my Department publishes the myProjectIreland online interactive map and a capital investment tracker on gov.ie/2040, highlighting an extensive list of public investment in projects and programmes. The interactive map and capital investment tracker - mostly recently updated in May 2022- sets out details of the key projects and programmes being implemented under the NDP, by providing updates on the progress of all major investments that make up Project Ireland 2040. The capital tracker includes a number of major projects directly related to Cork city and county. The tracker currently focuses on projects and programmes with costs greater than €20 million.
In addition, my Department has published Regional Reports for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 which highlight the public investments which have been made throughout the country under Project Ireland 2040, including in Cork and the rest of the Southern Region. These reports are also available on gov.ie/2040. While the Southern Regional Reports do not provide an exhaustive list of all public capital expenditure in the region, they serve to highlight the diverse range of capital investments being made by the State in the county of Cork.
480. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a response will issue to a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40774/22]
View answerI have been advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that a total of 14 properties and sites were sold in 2021 and seven sold to-date in 2022, generating income of €5,770,302.91 for the Exchequer.
The following properties and sites were sold by the Commissioners in 2021 and 2022:
Properties and Sites sold in 2021
|
No. |
Property Transactions |
Sale Details |
Sale Amount |
|
1 |
Site at Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny (transfer to Kilkenny Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€75,000.00 |
|
2 |
Former Garda Station, Edward Street, Limerick (transfer to Limerick City and Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€20,000.00 |
|
3 |
Former Social Welfare Office, Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth (transfer to Louth Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€85,000.00 |
|
4 |
Former Garda Station and Residence, Leenane, Co. Galway |
Public Auction |
€325,000.00 |
|
5 |
Site at Virginia, Cavan (transfer to Cavan Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€10,000.00 |
|
6 |
Portion of site at rear of Garda station, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny (transfer to Kilkenny Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€0.00 |
|
7 |
Site at Roundstone Garda Station, Co. Galway (transfer to Galway Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€95,000.00 |
|
8 |
Former Garda Station, Ballina, Co. Mayo (transfer to Mayo Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€215,000.00 |
|
9 |
Former Garda Station and Residence, Ballyglass, Co. Mayo |
Public Auction |
€92,000.00 |
|
10 |
Site at Knock, Co. Mayo |
Public Auction |
€55,000.00 |
|
11 |
Former Social Protection Office, Prospect Avenue, Westport, Co. Mayo |
Public Auction |
€395,000.00 |
|
12 |
Former Garda Station and Residence, Hollymount, Co. Mayo |
Public Auction |
€138,000.00 |
|
13 |
Strip of land at St. Patricks Terrace, Naas, Co. Kildare |
Private Treaty |
€2,500.00 |
|
14 |
Strip of land at Garda Station, Kinsale, Co. Cork |
Private Treaty |
€3,802.91 |
|
TOTAL |
€1,511,302.91 |
Properties and Sites sold in 2022
|
No. |
Property Transactions |
Sale Details |
Sale Amount |
|
1 |
Former Warehouse, Tara House, Annacotty Business Park, Co. Limerick |
Private Treaty |
€3,600,000.00 |
|
2 |
Former Garda Station and Residence, Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath |
Private Treaty |
€135,000.00 |
|
3 |
Release of right of way on lands adjacent to the Government Offices, Killarney, Co. Kerry |
Private Treaty |
€25,000.00 |
|
4 |
Land at Garda Station, Gort, Co. Galway (transfer to Galway Co. Co.) |
Intrastate transfer |
€75,000.00 |
|
5 |
Former Garda Station and Residence, Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim |
Auction |
€194,000.00 |
|
6 |
Former Garda Station and Residence, Stradone, Co. Cavan |
Auction |
€89,000.00 |
|
7 |
Former MES (Marine Emergency Services) Property, Helvic Head, Co. Waterford |
Auction |
€141,000.00 |
|
Total to Date in 2022 |
€4,259,000 |
481. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of plans for the Ballincollig Weir. [40821/22]
View answerBallincollig Weir, which as part of Ballincollig Regional Park, is in the ownership of Cork City Council since the boundary change between Cork County and City in June 2019. I am aware that the Weir had apparently been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, which has left the weir in extremely poor condition.
In June of last year, I met with the Lord Mayor of Cork City, along with members of Cork City Council and City Council Officials, to confirm OPW’s commitment to incorporate remedial works to the weir into the construction contract and budget for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, if appropriate. While there are no hydraulic benefits to the flood relief scheme from the weir, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group has agreed to assess the feasibility of incorporating any remedial works to the weir into the construction contract and budget for the proposed Scheme.
The nature of any such remedial works will be subject to an assessment of planning, structural, fisheries and cultural heritage considerations, which the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group asked the Scheme’s design consultants, contracted by the OPW, to review. The consultants’ proposal to undertake a preliminary feasibility assessment and constraints study for the reinstatement of Ballincollig Weir is being finalised at present.
482. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action and engagement that he has had in relation to the amending of the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020 (details supplied) in order to allow for an examination of the legislative landscape including a review of the current regulatory framework [40892/22]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has been engaged, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in the drafting of the Heads of a River Shannon Management Body Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to create a statutory management body with responsibilities and functions to identify, coordinate, monitor and communicate flood risk management actions and activities for the river Shannon catchment and to provide for related matters.
A number of legal considerations have been identified during the drafting of the Bill and Counsel has been appointed to provide additional support for the progression of the work necessary to examine and address these matters. This work is ongoing, with a view to progressing the drafting of the Heads of the Bill as a priority.
483. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the BER rating of each of the buildings in the Houses of the Oireachtas. [40900/22]
View answerThere have been no BER certificates prepared for the individual buildings in the Houses of the Oireachtas. However, all buildings on the Leinster House campus, incorporating over 100,000 square metres of floor area, are included on a single Display Energy Certificate (DEC). This is a type of energy rating which is based on actual energy consumption in the campus. The most recent DEC rating for the campus was a D1.
484. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions and engagements that his Department has taken to date to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in all buildings under his Department. [40917/22]
View answerThe OPW has achieved significant success with regard to energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions in its portfolio of buildings over many years. The bulk of the savings have been achieved through a large-scale staff energy awareness campaign (Optimising Power @ Work). Launched in 2008 the campaign operates in over 280 large Central Government buildings (this covers approximately 80% of the energy usage in the OPW portfolio). The main focus of the programme is to encourage behavioural change of the building occupants, optimise existing control systems and eliminate energy wastage. Annual average energy savings of over 25% have been achieved. Since 2017 DECC have provided €20.5M funding for an energy efficiency retrofit programme in central government buildings. The programme is a joint venture between DECC/SEAI and OPW. To date, over 75 large buildings have been retrofitted (mainly lighting, heating and controls projects). In addition, 28 smaller buildings have been upgraded.
The OPW is currently working with SEAI to secure significant additional funding (€30M) over a 3-year period for deeper energy retrofit (fabric + air tightness+ M&E) pathfinder projects in OPW buildings. The OPW has also been allocated funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Planning fund of €99M of which €55M will be used for similar deep energy retrofit projects. One of the key projects under this programme is the Deep Retrofit of Tom Johnson House in Dublin (formerly used to accommodate the State’s Labour Relations bodies) which is currently on site. On completion of the project, the newly refurbished building will be an exemplar in energy efficiency, with a projected 75% reduction in primary energy usage, and will be the new headquarters of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
485. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW plans to extend the opening hours of the car park to the National Botanic Gardens during the summer and autumn months of 2022. [40965/22]
View answerThe National Botanic Gardens are a scientific collection. Their mission is to manage the large, globally significant plant collections, as well as to educate and inform visitors. The Gardens receives over 600,000 visitors per year and offers a wide range of research, tours, talks, exhibitions and activities for children during its opening hours.
The Gardens are open to the public from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm at weekends and bank holidays. Currently, there are no plans to extend the opening hours of the Gardens or the car park.
