Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2023 Appropriation Accounts and C&AG’s flood risk management and rapid build housing reports with Office of Public Works (OPW)

• 2023 Appropriation Accounts Vote 13 - Office of Public Works;
• Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023 Chapter 4 – Adapting flood risk management to climate change impacts;
• Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023 Chapter 5 – Delivery of rapid build housing.
  

The meeting will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

Deputy Catherine Murphy, Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Committee, said: “The Office of Public Works has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining an estate of approximately 2,500 State properties, including accommodation for all Government departments and offices, and Garda stations and offices.

“The OPW is also responsible for specialised spaces such as public offices, laboratories and cultural institutions, in addition to warehouses, heritage properties, visitor centres and sites. This includes Leinster House and the wider complex for the Houses of the Oireachtas. The OPW also acts as the State engineering agency, with a special focus on flood risk management. It carries out capital development projects for other departments and agencies.

“The OPW’s 2023 appropriation account records gross expenditure of €658 million and had a surplus to be surrendered to the exchequer of €17 million in 2023. Voted expenditure is under two Programmes: A – Flood Risk Management which had an outturn of €112 million in 2023 and B – Estate Management with an outturn of €546 million in 2023.

“Important matters the Committee wishes to examine include the development of the National Children’s Science Centre which it is estimated will cost €70 million, the construction of the Leinster House bicycle shelter and a security pavilion at Government Buildings, and the restoration of the Oireachtas Library and reading room.

“Other matters of concern identified in the 2023 accounts relate to a significant level of non-compliance with relevant procurement rules in respect of 61 contracts totalling €12.9 million, and an overpayment of VAT liability of €3.2 million to the Revenue Commissioners which occurred as a result of an error.”

The Committee will also examine two chapters in the C&AG’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023 relating to the OPW: Chapter 4 – Adapting flood risk management to climate change impacts, and Chapter 5 – Delivery of Rapid Build Housing.

Deputy Murphy said: “Chapter 4 examines the progress made in implementing the 21 adaptation actions set out in the Flood Risk Management Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan published in 2019 and reviews the existing governance structure in the area of climate change adaptation in Ireland. The Office of Public Works is the lead organisation for the Plan.

“Chapter 5 examines the rapid build programme as part of Government’s response to provide accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection. The pilot programme by the OPW for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth initially set out to deliver 500 units by February 2023 at an estimated cost of €100 million or €200,000 per unit. Delivery of the 500 units was only achieved in early August 2024 – some 17 months later than planned. The final projected average cost per unit is now expected to be €442,000 — an increase of some 120 per cent on the original February 2023 estimate.

“The Committee welcomes this opportunity to engage with the OPW and discuss these important matters, some of which have generated considerable public commentary and concern. Members look forward to meeting with Mr Conlon and his colleagues to examine the 2023 Appropriation Accounts for OPW, the C&AG’s reports and related matters.”

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.