Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
73. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if there is a plan or strategy in place for the Office of Public Works to reduce the reliance on leased properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17730/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW has a significant and diverse office accommodation portfolio distributed throughout the country, comprising of 866,768 square meters at year end 2023, and including a range of differing types of office provision, from prestige heritage buildings to brand new grade A office accommodation. Currently 60% of this accommodation is provided in State Owned Accommodation. The issue of whether to buy, build or lease properties is a complex matter and is subject to a variety of variables, including: the availability of capital funding; the availability of suitable buildings or sites; the prevailing market conditions at the time; the urgency and scale attached to the accommodation request, and the duration of the requirement.
To meet its strategic objectives of modernising the estate and making it more efficient, OPW constantly look to appraise the potential of the existing Owned accommodation portfolio for future redevelopment of sites, refurbishment opportunities and potential asset recycling prospects. This is done in parallel and in conjunction with ongoing appraisal, monitoring and managing of opportunities which arise from within the Leasehold Estate, including the exploration of possible purchase opportunities.
Due to the range of accommodation requirements across Government, it is important to keep a dynamic portfolio that has flexibility to meet the evolving long term needs of Government. The OPW’s preference is that functions of infrastructural importance or viewed as a long-term commitment should, where possible, be accommodated in State owned properties.
Under the National Development Plan (2021 – 2030), the OPW has been successful in securing funding for a broad range of projects, which includes a number of office developments that will further augment the balance of leased and owned accommodation.
One of the major capital projects is the deep energy retrofit of the state owned Tom Johnson House in Dublin 4, which will reduce the buildings primary energy use by 75% and become the new headquarters of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Other recent and ongoing examples of modernising the State Owned accommodation portfolio in the care of the OPW include significant capital investment projects on a brownfield site in Dublin 2, a range of regional investment projects in the West and North West, and a recent purchase of a strategically located office building in proximity to Government Buildings in Dublin.
