Written Answers Nos. 237-254
240. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update with regard to a pension that is owed to a former employee of the OPW (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15993/24]
View answerThe Pensions Section in the Office of Public Works contacted the former employee in question on 5th October, 2023 in connection with the payment of his preserved retirement pension and lump sum. All Forms have been returned by the former employee.
The details of this case are complex and OPW are liaising with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform and following guidance in order to confirm payment amounts.
Payments due to Mr Crowley will issue as soon as advices sought on foot of guidance is secured and amounts due for payment are confirmed. Payments due will be backdated to the former employee’s 65th birthday. A letter has issued to Mr Crowley today (12 April 2024) from OPW to appraise him of the current situation.
241. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected completion date for the Templemore river mall flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16021/24]
View answerThe River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme in Co. Tipperary is being delivered by the Office of Public Works (OPW) through direct works. The scheme is currently at an advanced construction stage and is progressing towards substantial completion.
It is currently envisaged that substantial completion for the River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme will be achieved by Q3 2024. Ultimate completion will be subject to favourable weather conditions and third party agreements, which are being progressed by the OPW.
Arising from the implementation of the River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme, infilling of the old river channel will be progressed by Tipperary County Council.
242. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the proposed new station at Kilmore Quay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16140/24]
View answerThe Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), a Division of the Department of Transport, has 44 Coast Guard Units based in 58 Coast Guard Stations around the country. The IRCG building programme, which includes the provision of new or upgraded facilities at a number of locations across the country, is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the Department of Transport, from planning design to build and on-going maintenance. These projects are funded by the Department of Transport.
The provision of facilities for the Coast Guard in Kilmore Quay is a priority on the IRCG building programme. The OPW has acquired a site in Kilmore Quay from Wexford County Council and a feasibility study on the provision of a proposed new facility has been approved by the IRCG.
The OPW advise the appointment from an existing framework of a design and build contractor for this project is at an advanced stage. This appointment will encapsulate all necessary site investigations, submission of planning applications, detailed design and construction subject to approvals at appropriate stages by the Department of Transport.
243. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made to date by his Department in the replacement by the OPW of a structure that comes under its remit (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16179/24]
View answerI have been advised that the Office of Public Works (OPW) approved funding of €90,000 in 2015 under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to Galway County Council in respect of a Coastal Erosion and Flood Risk Management study for Inishbofin Island as a whole, including the issues of concern at the East End Pier.
Galway County Council has since commissioned and completed the Coastal Erosion and Flood Risk Management study, and a draft final report is under review by the Council and the OPW. This study examined three individual areas of interest on Inishbofin Island, which included Cloonamore Bay where the East End pier is situated. It is envisaged that the report will be agreed and finalised in the coming months, and it will form the basis for subsequent applications for future works.
It is a matter for Galway County Council to identify any coastal protection/erosion works in their administrative area and it is open to Galway County Council to apply for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie.
244. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the OPW Jamestown Road workshop; the current and future utilisation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16183/24]
View answerThe property at Jamestown Road is used as a workshop for OPW Building Maintenance Services metal fabrication unit, and for OPW storage purposes. The roles performed on the site are a key part of OPW’s overall function, and the site is a live workplace for OPW staff.
In conjunction with adjoining properties outside of OPW ownership, the OPW lands at Jamestown Road have been identified by the Land Development Agency as having long term delivery potential for residential-led development and urban regeneration.
The OPW continue to work with the Land Development Agency and the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage on potential future uses of the site and to ensure that OPW can continue to provide its existing service to Government.
245. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on potential actions he will take to deal with the large amount of birds on OPW Jamestown Road workshop site, which is negatively impacting on nearby residents; if he will consider erecting some tethered hawk kites to deter birds from the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16184/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works commissioned a report in September 2018 to investigate solutions to the issues of gull control at the Jamestown Road site. In line with the recommendations of the report and following a full risk assessment, the OPW, in compliance with the Irish Wildlife Act 1976 and the Irish Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, installed a bio-acoustic deterrent system and erected two tethered hawk kites.
In June 2021, two additional hawk kites and poles were added. Four more hawk kites have been procured and are awaiting installation at the site. The OPW will keep these measures under review.
246. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide the capital allocation ceiling for the Office of Public Works for 2024, 2025 and 2026; the capital ceilings or projects for the annual priority reserve for 2024, 2025, and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16229/24]
View answerOn foot of the completion of the NDP Review, the OPW Capital ceilings are as follows:
2024: €288m
2025: €320m
2026: €340m
The annual priority reserve was included in the National Development Plan 2021-30 and is not specific to the Office of Public Works nor to any particular Department or project. Allocations from the annual reserve were used to allocate funding for emerging new investment priorities in each of the annual Estimates processes from 2022 to 2024. The level of funding and projects for the remaining annual priority reserve in 2025 will be considered in advance of the Estimates process for 2025 later this year.
247. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount that the OPW received from allowing Iveagh Gardens to be used as a summer concert venue. [16284/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is responsible for the conservation and preservation of the Iveagh Gardens, balancing the heritage of the Gardens, the needs of the local community who access the Gardens and the need for cultural spaces within the city.
A breakdown is provided below in relation to the total revenue generated in charges over the past 5 years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024 for summer events including concerts in the Iveagh Gardens.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
0 |
0 |
€95,400 |
€178,800 |
0 |
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no concerts were held in 2020 or 2021. There was an increase in fees in 2023 which accounts for the increase in revenue. In 2024, no revenue has yet been received.
248. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of suppliers currently on the Office of Government Procurement Multi-Supplier Framework for the provision of printing services. [16415/24]
View answerThe Office of Government has a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Print and Design. 53 suppliers are members of this DPS.
249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW is in a position to engage with volunteer-led organisations to provide use of some of their landholdings in the context of rehoming rescued native species where appropriate to do so. [16560/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is very active is a range of habitat and species actions, usually in partnership with NPWS, such as developing Natterjack Toad ponds, or securing roosts for Lesser Horseshoe Bat and ensuring access for Barn Owls to nest in buildings or tree cavities.
These organisations may wish to contact their local National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger site in the first instance for advice. The local OPW site manager will then work in consultation with the NPWS to determine if the rehoming is appropriate. Where the rescued native species are protected wildlife, as defined under the Wildlife Acts, such as Badgers, Hedgehogs or Pine Marten for example, a formal licence from the NPWS would be required.
250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline, in relation to the protest barriers used outside Kildare House, where these barriers were sourced; the name of the company; the amount each of these barriers has cost; and the total cost, since 2022, in tabular form. [16566/24]
View answerKildare House forms part of the Leinster House complex and primarily comprises office accommodation for staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Office of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of this building. However, the OPW has no role in security matters and is not responsible for any barriers mounted outside this building.
An Garda Síochána is responsible for all security operations undertaken at the Leinster House complex which includes Kildare House.
251. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide the details of the CFRAM assessment in Termonfeckin, County Louth, which suffered from extremely damaging floods in the recent flooding events, given the OPW indicated that a possible structural flood relief measures for Termonfeckin was not an economically viable scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16616/24]
View answerThe OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State, the National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk. Some 150 additional flood relief schemes were identified through this Programme, including a number of schemes in Louth.
The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of these flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk.
While the CFRAM Programme investigated possible flood relief measures for Termonfeckin, an economically viable scheme for this community was not identified. Termonfeckin was designated as an area for further assessment and the OPW is currently reviewing the flood risk in this community and is due to have a final report completed in Q2 2024.
The OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk. The OPW, since 2009, has approved €1.9m in funding for local flood projects under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to Louth County Council.
252. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on when his Department will publish the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16703/24]
View answerThe preparation of legislation to improve the management of flood risk on the River Shannon is a Government priority. The River Shannon Management Body Bill is on the priority legislation list for drafting for Summer 2024. The main purpose of the Bill is to improve flood risk management for the River Shannon catchment.
As the deputy is aware, the management of flood risk on the river is closely intertwined with other uses of the river such as for navigation, dam safety and electricity generation. The OPW has conducted an analysis of existing legislation regarding the management of the River Shannon, including a review of the powers of various bodies involved with the river. Given the powers and functions of the various bodies the preparation of legislative proposals is complex. In this context, there is a requirement for consultation and, when completed, legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on a proposed approach. The OPW, in line with Government direction, is prioritising this work.
253. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the publishing of a report by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs on skills requirement for modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16649/24]
View answerIn the context of its 2023/2024 work programme, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) agreed that a study should be undertaken to determine the skills required to transform Ireland’s construction sector through widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), including offsite manufacturing. The study has sought to identify the nature and quantify the scale of the skills needs of enterprises supporting the transition to MMC in the coming decade; and develop a suite of recommendations that can be drawn up to ensure that the forecasted MMC skills needs are fully addressed by stakeholders through the education and training system and any other relevant source of skills supply.
As part of this research, a survey questionnaire was designed to gather data from the sector and identify the main trends and drivers that will impact on the nature and demand for skills to support the MMC transition in residential construction. Building on this initial stakeholder engagement, a series of structured interviews with key informants were carried out, including sectoral representative organisations and international experts in the MMC space. The emerging findings from the survey and interviews were further discussed with a wider group of enterprises, organisations, and key informants at two workshops.
The findings of the literature review, international benchmarking exercise, and stakeholder consultation insights are currently being drafted into a final report which will be discussed by the project Steering Group. The demand scenario and supply of skills analyses are also being finalised, as are the drafting of the recommendations arising from the study. The final results of the study will be presented to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and publication of the report is expected in Q2 2024.
254. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in light of the United Nations Human Rights Council demanding a halt of arms sale to Israel, he will suspend the granting of export licences for dual-use items to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15972/24]
View answerMy Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods.
Controls on the export of Dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The Regulation provides for a harmonised export controls system throughout the EU and sets out the criteria for the examination of applications.
In conducting assessments of applications for export licences, my officials carry out a series of checks to ensure, as far as possible, that the item to be exported will be used by the stated end-user for the stated end-use and will not be used for illicit purposes.
As part of their assessment, my officials seek the views of the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of all applications for export licences, including those destined for Israeli end users. Both my own Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs review all dual-use export licence applications against the eight assessment criteria set out in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP – including “Respect for human rights in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country of international humanitarian law” and "Internal situation in the country of final destination, as a function of the existence of tensions or armed conflicts".
Accordingly, when making their assessment of applications, my officials are furnished with up to date information which they take into account in the final risk assessment of all licence applications.
Article 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that the Union shall have exclusive competence in the Common Commercial Policy. Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that trade with third countries falls within the Common Commercial Policy of the EU. Therefore, this is an area where the EU has exclusive competence.
