Written Answers Nos. 486-500
487. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a copy of the Department of Finance Memorandum for Government of 18 December 2012, the Property Asset Management Delivery Plan 2013, the OPW's Capacity and Capability Review 2014; if he will provide an update on each of the 12 recommendations set out in these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41047/22]
View answer492. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that the current estimated occupancy rate at 22.26 square metres per person is almost double the target occupancy level as per the 2013 Property Asset Management Delivery Plan of 12 square metres per person; when it is hoped to reach the target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41053/22]
View answer494. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has implemented its cost option appraisal model of candidate projects; the person or organisation who will undertake this review work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41055/22]
View answer495. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a risk assessment protocol has been devised and adopted by the OPW and applied to all accommodation requests and requirements, specifically in relation to the choice between owned versus leased property solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41056/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 487, 492, 494 and 495 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, all memoranda for consideration by the Government are confidential. Therefore, the OPW is not in a position to provide you with a copy of a Memo referenced in your question.
The Property Asset Management Delivery Plan 2013 (PAMDP) is publicly available on at: Property Asset Management Delivery Plan 2013. A progress report on the Plan from 2015 is available at: Property Asset Management Delivery Plan (Progress Report 2015)
A copy of the 2014 Capacity and Capability Review is attached.
The Deputy will be aware that since work was completed many years ago on these reports, the landscape in the area of property in the public service has changed significantly. These changes have mainly been driven by public sector reform initiatives, the onset of Covid-19, the introduction of blended working models and radical changes in cost models in the construction industry.
Responding to these changes, the OPW too has had to adapt to the evolving environment by introducing new measures and initiatives some of which include:
- The establishment of a dedicated Communications Unit to enhance engagement with stakeholders and the public by raising awareness of the OPW’s activities. The OPW regularly hosts Accommodation Workshops with client Departments, Annual Accommodation Officers Network Conferences and provides web-based client related information. Central to this activity is the assistance provided to Client Departments regarding the reshaping of office accommodation to me new blended working models;
- The development of an overall estate management strategy to provide a high level, coordinated planning approach of the functions covered within the Estate Portfolio Management area;
- The requirement to ensure that all property solutions meet expected climate and environmentally appropriate standards;
- The establishment of a Portfolio Planning Unit to facilitate more in-depth strategic portfolio planning and property option appraisals, along with identifying potential opportunities in the market, in consultation with the Property Advisory (Valuation) Services in the OPW. This includes assessing options relating to requests for accommodation received from clients. These option appraisals are conducted in line with the Public Spending Code and are prepared by a multi-disciplinary group tasked with assessing all potential solutions, including lease versus buy options, among others. In relation to assessing options around the relative cost of building, buying or leasing office accommodation, this was examined as part of a spending review carried out jointly between OPW and the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Unit (IGEES). Decisions on whether to build, buy or lease are taken by the OPW on a case-by-case basis, and have regard to a number of factors including:
- Availability of capital. The build or purchase option requires upfront capital whereas lease options involve a more gradual build-up of costs;
- The operational requirements of client departments and agencies;
- The balance of properties already in the portfolio;
- Whether the requirement is for short term or longer term usage;
- Security considerations and requirements for specialist fit outs;
- Profile of the proposed occupier e.g. Government Department headquarters or regional offices for agencies;
- Property market availability and trends;
- Availability of sites for development;
- The timescale within which a property solution has to be delivered;
- Increased use of structured multi-disciplinary option appraisals on significant acquisition proposals;
- Independent verification of Heads of Terms agreed on leasehold or freehold acquisitions to ensure alignment between the agreed Heads of Terms and the final legal documentation;
- The establishment of a property Acquisition and Disposals Committee to identify potential strategic acquisitions, matched with planned disposals (to re-invest disposal income);
- The adoption of office accommodation standards that have introduced more modern, open plan working environments that optimise space usage. The approach to the utilisation of office space has significantly changed in the past two years since the onset of Covid-19. All client Departments are currently examining more flexible working policies across the civil service. In instances where Departments wish to rationalise properties they occupy, the OPW will continue to facilitate changes in accommodation, subject to any legally binding occupancy agreements in place;
- The establishment of a Project Oversight Group, which provides accountability for planning, budgeting decision-making on project inception (i.e. getting projects onto the pipeline), prioritisation and resourcing for delivery;
- The restructuring of the projects delivery area to include a Major Capital Projects Unit to manage large and/or complex projects requiring extensive design work, an Intermediate Capital Projects function and a dedicated Minor Capital Works function with a core of professional and administrative staff. This has focused activities on optimising our delivery of the large number of capital projects undertaken by OPW;
- The introduction of an Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) to streamline the management and information sharing of property activities and data across the organisation
488. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 16 June 2022, if he will provide details (details supplied) on each of the leased properties provided in the schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41049/22]
View answerThe detailed information requested by the Deputy is being researched and a response will issue directly as soon as possible.
489. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 16 June 2022, if he will provide details (details supplied) on each of the owned properties provided in the schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41050/22]
View answerThe detailed information requested by the Deputy is being researched and a response will issue directly, as soon as possible.
490. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of all properties in cases in which they were leased by State bodies under his aegis; the list of all State bodies under his aegis that are or could be currently acting independently of the OPW to acquire their own property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41051/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis lease accommodation or property independent of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
A key function of the OPW is to provide accommodation for all Government Departments. In this regard, OPW holds a portfolio of property throughout the country to meet the various operational needs of the Civil Service, the Gardaí and various other State Bodies. The OPW’s objective is to hold, manage and maintain a property portfolio that is aligned to Government delivery needs in terms of size, location, specification, value for money and optimum utilisation. The information below lists the buildings leased by the OPW for use as public buildings and includes the associated rent per annum for each building. It should be noted that some of the leases are for specified areas within a building rather than the entire building. The OPW is not in a position to provide data on any leased buildings that may be held by other State bodies where those bodies have entered into an agreement directly with a landlord.
By way of further background information, the Deputy may wish to note that rental expenditure from the OPW Vote in 2021 was €103.3 million. In addition, the OPW recouped almost €15 million from State bodies in respect of rent paid on their behalf. The main core of leased buildings are for the purpose of providing office accommodation for the various Government Departments and their Agencies.
At year-end 2021, the OPW portfolio comprised of the following:
- 541 buildings;
- 341 leases in 285 buildings;
- 256 owned office buildings;
- Total floor area – 890,489 sq m (9,585,143 sq ft);
- 39% Leased - 346,754 sq m (3,732,427 sq ft); and
- 61% Owned – 543,735 sq m (5,852,715 sq ft).
491. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the names of those State bodies that recoup the cost of their rent to the OPW; the reason for same; the properties and associated rents in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41052/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will issue directly as soon as possible.
493. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the effect that blended working will have on OPW occupational efficiency plans and targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41054/22]
View answer496. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if working from home protocols will result in a reduction in overall OPW portfolio size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41057/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 496 together.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) actively monitors Government office accommodation in conjunction with their clients and in line with the Estate Management Strategy. We will continue to do so in light of any impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on office use and in line with contractual obligations.
There is no doubt that the pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on the way we all work and more particularly the role of the office as the main location for civil servants to carry out their duties. The civil service as a whole now needs to examine its attitude and approach to the workplace. Traditional, total reliance on building-based work locations/solutions into the future needs to be actively examined. Offices are likely to remain an essential place of work but now may be used differently by personnel working a hybrid work arrangement whereby they attend the workplace for part of the week only.
In March 2021 the Government published “Making Remote Work - National Remote Work Strategy”. The objective of the Strategy is to ensure that remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. Throughout 2021, the OPW actively engaged with the Civil Service Management Board to advance a centralised framework on blended working across the Civil Service. This centralised framework for blended working across the Civil Service was published in March 2022. Government Departments are now formalising their own blended working policies in accordance with this centralised framework.
While the implementation of Blended Working by individual Departments will no doubt have an impact on the office portfolio managed by the OPW, the level of this impact will take some time to manifest itself. The OPW are actively engaged with their Clients on how the workplace can be adapted to support their business and operational requirements in the context of hybrid work strategies. This engagement will continue over the coming months as Departments finalise their medium to long term accommodation requirements based on the adoption of blended working policies.
Every opportunity will be taken to improve occupational efficiency in line with Client business models and OPW Strategic Plans ensuring that the office portfolio is fit for purpose into the future and delivers value for money for the taxpayer.
497. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list the current vacant properties in the OPW’s portfolio; their associated sizes and length of time vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41058/22]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that there are currently 70 vacant properties (buildings) in the portfolio. Over half (47) of these are former Garda stations and residences, most of which closed under the 2012/2013 policing plans of An Garda Síochána. OPW was under instruction not to dispose of these properties for much of the intervening time while a review of closed Garda stations was conducted.
In addition, there are 33 vacant sites.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies and protocols on the disposal of surplus properties. The approach to managing vacant properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed either for Government Departments or for the wider public service.
As a matter of policy, no property or site is disposed of until there is certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property. The OPW, as a matter of course, consults with the Land Development Agency, Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education and other State bodies in advance of any decision on the future of a property. In 2021, the OPW also engaged with the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss the use of the former Garda stations. The OPW provided the Department of Rural and Community Development with a list of former Garda stations closed as part of the 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans. This list was provided in order for that Department to evaluate the properties for community use and/or regional hubs. To-date, the OPW has not been made aware by the Department that any of the properties have been deemed suitable for community use or regional hubs. In addition, a list of vacant properties and sites has been provided to the Departments managing the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine.
Once it has been established that the surplus properties are not suitable for alternative State use, the OPW then considers if open market disposal is a viable option. Prior to disposing of a property, the OPW may re-evaluate the property’s potential and decide whether there may be a benefit to retaining a strategic property or site for future use or development. In this specific context, the OPW must take a long-term view on the potential future utility of such properties rather than seeking short-term commercial gain.
Finally, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.
A full list of vacant properties and site by location (county) is available in Appendix I attached and includes the date they became vacant, where available. The square meterage for all of these properties and sites is not readily available.
In addition to the vacant properties listed, there are a limited number of sundry residential dwellings that are intrinsic to the estates of National Parks and Gardens managed by the OPW. In general, these are allocated to staff where there is a requirement for officials to be present on the ground. There are a number of these currently vacant due to the poor condition of the properties, though these would not be categorised in the same way as non-operational vacant properties that may be considered for other State use or for disposal. The OPW is progressing a programme of refurbishment of these properties, subject to the availability of funding.
Leased Properties
There are no vacant leased properties.
498. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received any gifts from visiting dignitaries; if he will provide a breakdown of the details of these gifts, their value, and the way they were disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41123/22]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, I met with Belgian State Secretary for Budget and Consumer Protection, Ms. Eva De Bleeker during her visit to Dublin on 3 June 2022. The State Secretary gave me a commemorative tea towel.
As the Deputy will be aware under Section 15 of the Ethics in Public Office Act (1995) gifts presented to officeholders valued in excess of €650 are deemed to be gifts to the State. I have not received any such gifts since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in June 2020.
499. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received any gifts while travelling abroad; if he will provide a breakdown of the detail and value of these gifts and the way they were disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41141/22]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, under Section 15 of the Ethics in Public Office Act (1995) gifts presented to officeholders valued in excess of €650 are deemed to be gifts to the State. I have not received any such gifts since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in June 2020.
500. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he or his Department have given any gifts to visiting dignitaries; if he will provide a breakdown of the detail and the value of these gifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41159/22]
View answerSince my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, there has been one gift presented by my Department to visiting dignitaries. As requested by the Deputy, the details are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Details of Gift |
Recipient |
Value |
|
2022 |
Picture by Irish artist from Kilkenny Shop |
Token gift of appreciation to the Head of the Latvian EU Funds Audit Authority and her Team who came to Dublin to lead on a 3 day seminar, fully sponsored by the European Commission, to provide training and sharing of experiences on the audit of a range of EU Funds. |
€75.00 |
