Written Answers Nos. 262-277
263. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide the spending on constructing and refurbishing Garda stations and offices in each year between 2016 and 2024 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42526/24]
View answerThe OPW need more time to collate the information and will respond directly to the Deputy.
264. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if flood prevention measures will be expanded in areas of County Kildare prone to flooding, such as Maynooth and Sallins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42572/24]
View answer265. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide information on flood risk management strategies, particularly how the catchment flood risk assessment and management study will mitigate flooding in Kildare towns such as Rathangan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42581/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.
The OPW is coordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s National Flood Risk Policy. A broad range of structural and non-structural measures are being implemented to address flood risk under an approach structured around three pillars:
• Prevention: e.g. avoiding inappropriate development in flood-prone area;
• Protection: e.g. taking feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, to reduce the likelihood and impact of floods;
• Preparedness: e.g. informing the public about dealing with flood risk and flood planning and responding to reduce the impacts of flood events.
These policy areas are supported by the collection of relevant data, the development of relevant science and evidence, and the undertaking of assessments to inform where flood risk, now and into the future, needs to be addressed.
The OPW is the national authority for the implementation of the EU Floods Directive. The EU Floods Directive requires a six yearly cyclical approach to the assessment of flood risks, including a preliminary flood risk assessment (PFRA) to identify areas of potentially significant flood risk (APSFRs), the preparation of flood hazard and flood risk maps for the identified APSFRs and the preparation of flood risk management plans.
In 2018, the OPW completed the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme the largest ever flood risk study in Ireland to date. This study involved a detailed engineering assessment for 300 communities identified as areas of potentially significant flood risk and produced a range of detailed flood maps for potential future as well as present-day conditions and 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) which are published on the OPW flood portal: www.floodinfo.ie.
The 29 FRMPs set out both structural and non-structural measures to manage the flood risk in the communities at potentially significant flood risk and elsewhere around the country. The FRMPs identified 119 proposed schemes to protect 95% of the properties at risk within those communities, together with the evidence to prioritise their delivery where the benefit is greatest. The residual risk is being addressed by the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, Individual Property Protection, Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme, enhanced preparedness and flood forecasting.
The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 100 schemes at this time.
Nationally, 55 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to over 13,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.
The OPW has completed four major flood relief schemes in County Kildare: the Lower Morrell (Turnings), Morrell Johnstown, Rye Water (Leixlip) and Shinkeen (Hazelhatch) flood relief schemes
Currently, there are three major flood relief schemes underway. Two projects, Athy and Naas, are at Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. The Morell River flood management scheme is also underway and is at Stage IV: Implementation / Construction. There is also a further Small Project at commencement stage at Leixlip, which is being progressed by Kildare County Council with funding being provided by the OPW. Once completed, these four projects will provide protection to a further 677 properties, with an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €74m.
As it is not feasible to deliver all flood relief schemes concurrently (due to limited capacity in OPW, the local authorities, and in the specialised consultancy market), the flood-relief delivery programme was subdivided into two tranches, focusing initially on Tranche I schemes and those already in the delivery pipeline. The prioritisation of the first tranche of schemes was based on three criteria including: scale of projects, capacity to deliver a national programme, and maximising return on investment by reference to property numbers. Under the national programme, work has yet to commence on the design of some 54 Tranche II flood relief schemes. There are three further schemes planned for County Kildare, which are classified as Tranche II projects. These projects are at Clane, Maynooth, and Newbridge.
Rathangan was assessed under the CFRAM Programme and a flood relief scheme was not proposed for the area as it was determined to be at low risk. Other communities including Allenwood, Johnstown Bridge, Kilcock and Monasterevin were also determined to be at low risk.
It is also worth noting that local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Kildare County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.
The Council may also apply to the OPW for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the Local Authority concerned. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, which comprise economic, social and environmental criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.
Since 2009, the OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €1.8 million to County Kildare for some 7 projects. This includes a Minor Works project in respect of which the OPW provided funding of €500,000 to Kildare County Council to undertake relevant works in Sallins.
The PFRA is being reviewed this year for the third cycle implementation of the Floods Directive, which includes a new national-scale predictive flood risk assessment that will enhance national understanding of potential future, as well as current, flood risk, assessment of past floods and their impact and consultation with key stakeholders. The national flood risk assessments will be reviewed on a cyclical basis into the future, taking account of new developments and the onset and most up-to-date projections of the impacts of climate change. An ongoing Flood Map Review Programme provides for the continual review and where necessary update of the flood risk maps as and when required to help ensure that the most up-to-date information is available at any given time. New flood risk management plans under the third cycle of the Floods Directive will also be prepared by December 2027.
266. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide details of the dwellings and habitable structures in the Phoenix Park under the ownership of the Office of Public Works, in tabular form. [42690/24]
View answerI am advised by my officials that there are 41 lodges/properties in the Phoenix Park. These properties are primarily allocated to staff in specific posts, such as Park Ranger, Deer Keeper, etc where there is a requirement for officials to be present on the ground as part of their employment.
Lodges like those in the Phoenix Park are considered intrinsic to the historic estates, parks and gardens in the care of the OPW and are retained for State use. A number of these properties are located within secure areas of the Park e.g. Áras an Uachtaráin and as such are not accessible to members of the public.
The OPW has provided to the Deputy, a more general overview of occupancy of lodges in the Phoenix Park, so as to protect both the privacy of individual residents/employees and to avoid potential security issues arising from highlighting individual properties that may be vacant.
Of the 41 lodges in the Phoenix Park, there are 12 currently vacant primarily due to their poor condition and/or location which makes them unsuitable for modern occupation.
There is an ongoing programme to refurbish a number of lodges on a phased basis, subject to resources.
267. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide the details of costings provided to his Department, in the context of the National Development Plan 2021-2030 review conducted earlier this year; and to provide a breakdown of each project and its projected cost in each of the years 2025 to 2030. [42722/24]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.
The Government committed €165 billion towards capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 published in 2021. An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts has also been allocated from 2024 to 2026, to provide funding for critical infrastructure projects that are at an advanced stage as well as to the existing Climate Action Fund.
Following the conclusion of more than 30 bilateral meetings which took place from January to March with my Ministerial colleagues, the distribution of the additional €2.25 billion across Departments for the period 2024-26 was agreed by Government. The breakdown of the allocations by sector was subsequently published in March 2024. This builds on the existing funding already available under the NDP out to 2026 and it will mean more schools, housing, transport and healthcare projects can be progressed and delivered for our people.
Preliminary details of expenditure allocations for 2025 are provided at programme level in the Budget Estimates for Public Service, these allocations will be finalised and published at subhead level, before the end of the year, in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2025. Overall capital ceilings out to 2030 are set out in the NDP but a breakdown of expenditure by sector has not yet been set.
In relation to how the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Group allocation was assigned across the capital spending Votes, the information is provided in the table below. The vast majority of capital funding in this Department's Vote Group is assigned to Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (OPW).
|
Capital (€m) |
2025 |
2026 |
|
V11 – Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform Vote |
.8 |
.8 |
|
V13 - Office of Public Works |
320 |
340 |
|
V17 – Public Appointments Service |
1.5 |
1.5 |
|
V18 – National Shared Services Office |
10 |
10 |
|
V39 – Office of Government Procurement |
.3 |
.3 |
|
V43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer |
23 |
23 |
268. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 98 and 99 of 20 June 2024, when a reply will issue; the criteria by which contractors are removed from the list; the number of contractors listed on the OPW’s contractors list over the past five years; the number of applications, the number of additions and the number of removals to the list each year; the value of projects assigned to each contractor; the number of projects per contractor that have been identified as being non-compliant in procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42739/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has responded directly to the Deputy on this matter.
269. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason the balanced regional development agenda is mainly advanced in the National Development Plan through the highly concentrated and remote NUTS2 regional assemblies, rather than the more regionally engaged NUTS3 assemblies; the evaluations that have been undertaken of the 2015 streamlining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42810/24]
View answerBalanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and this priority is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040. This strategic plan includes the National Planning Framework (NPF), which sets the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years, along with the revised National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP) which was published in 2021. Over the lifetime of the NDP, this Government will be investing €165 billion in new and upgraded infrastructure that will meet the needs of our growing population. An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts has also been allocated from 2024 to 2026, to provide funding for critical infrastructure projects that are at an advanced stage.
Ensuring close alignment between the NDP and the NPF is necessary in order to accommodate a far bigger population by 2040 across Ireland's three regional assembly areas. The three Regional Assemblies (Eastern and Midlands Region, Northern and Western Region and Southern Region) are responsible for co-ordinating, promoting and supporting the strategic planning and sustainable development of their regions, by formulating Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES).
The RSES's identify regional assets, opportunities and pressures and provides appropriate policy responses in the form of Regional Policy Objectives.
The principal purpose of the RSESs is to support the implementation of Project Ireland 2040, and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the development of the regions. The RSESs support the growth strategy outlined in Project Ireland 2040 and seek to facilitate balanced regional development, focused on the five cities and five smaller regional growth centres, in order to support economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and climate action across all regions.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I did not have a role in the revisions to NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions referred to by the Deputy. Any queries in relation to this matter should be referred to my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
270. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 26 October 2023, to provide a detailed schedule, as complete as his Department has available to it, in tabular form, of capital projects at each stage of delivery from commencement to completion and evaluation in the south east of Ireland since the formation of the 33rd Dáil. [42811/24]
View answer273. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to detail the game-changing projects being envisaged, conceived, conceptualise and planned for the coming years to deliver economic growth in the south east of Ireland. [42815/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 273 together.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.
Balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and this priority is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040. Over the lifetime of the NDP, this Government will be investing €165 billion in new and upgraded infrastructure that will meet the needs of our growing population, including those in the south-east. An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts has also been allocated from 2024 to 2026 to deliver shovel-ready projects. In 2025, almost €15 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects. This is supporting the provision of more schools, homes, hospitals and other pieces of vital infrastructure across all regions.
The Government is committed to increasing public awareness of the capital investment in Project Ireland 2040 in all regions. A Project Ireland 2040 report on each regional assembly area, including the Southern region, is published each year. The 2023 annual and regional reports were published in September 2024 and are available on gov.ie/2040. In addition, my Department publishes a major capital projects tracker and an interactive map, which sets out details of the key projects and programmes being implemented under the NDP, including those in the south-east. The myProjectIreland map and capital tracker are drawn from data provided by relevant Government Departments and agencies. This data is a snapshot in time. The most recent versions of the map and tracker were published on 1 May 2024 and set out updates on capital projects which was gathered from Departments during Q1, 2024. Drawing on this published data, the table below sets out, as requested by the Deputy, the capital projects being planned or delivered in the south-east since the formation of the 33rd Dáil.
While the table does not provide an exhaustive view of all capital expenditure, it serves to highlight the diverse range of infrastructure being delivered in the south-east which will drive economic growth in the region and improve the living standards of all its citizens.
Extract from Capital Tracker and Map –capital projects in the South-East as published on 01 May 2024
271. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if there are any plans or projects within his Department to improve the level of detail made public with respect to capital expenditure in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42812/24]
View answerMy Department plays a key role in developing and monitoring capital expenditure in line with Government objectives and agreed fiscal policy. Managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Department. My Department is in regular communication with all Departments to ensure expenditure is managed within the overall fiscal parameter.
My Department already publishes myriad data pertaining to capital expenditure, for example there is a substantial amount of reporting and data available to the members of the Oireachtas and the public, which outline the cost range of projects and programmes being advanced and completed. The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker highlights projects and programmes with a value greater than €20 million. Further to this, the MyProjectIreland interactive map, while not exhaustive, details almost 1,370 individual projects and contains smaller investments in sectors such as schools and social housing projects, with the locations shown on a map based on geo co-ordinates. The capital investment tracker and interactive map provide citizens with a comprehensive overview of the capital projects being delivered in their own areas.
In addition, my Department publishes the Project Ireland 2040 Annual and Regional reports which set out the progress being made on projects and programmes which are being planned and delivered throughout Ireland. The Build report provides a comprehensive insight and a number of key findings into various aspects of the construction and built environment sector including costs, planning, skills, productivity and sustainability. The Prospect report sets out a clear pipeline for 50 of the largest individual projects that make up Project Ireland 2040. This pipeline spans projects which are currently at planning and appraisal to projects which are completing construction this year.
My Department stays in regular communication with all other Departments to ensure expenditure is managed within overall fiscal parameters and key data and information in relation to voted expenditure, including capital expenditure, is published monthly in the Fiscal Monitor.
We also publish the Mid-Year Expenditure Report (MYER) which is an important document in the annual budget cycle. The MYER 2024 outlines the expenditure trends and gross voted expenditure for the first half of the year, provides context for planned expenditure in the subsequent Budget and highlights a range of impacts and outcomes of the current expenditure policy.
Further to these publications, my Department also publishes extensive details of capital allocations and outturns in the Budget Estimates for Public Services and the Revised Estimates for Public Services.
A requirement of the Infrastructure Guidelines is that each Approving Authority (usually Government department) should put in place an internal, independent Quality Assurance Process (QAP), involving annual reports, published on the Approving Authority’s website, on how organisations are meeting their Infrastructure Guidelines requirements.
These annual reports should include an inventory list drawn up of all projects/programmes that were valued in excess of €500,000 across three categories:
• Expenditure being considered
• Expenditure being incurred; and
• Expenditure recently ended
In addition, organisations are required to publish summary information on all procurements in excess of €10 million.
Finally, there is currently extensive reporting of capital projects in the financial statements of Government Departments and Offices as well as the annual reports and financial statements of bodies under their aegis. All Government Departments and Offices, as well as nearly all bodies under their aegis, report their capital assets (Property, Plant and Equipment as well as Intangible Assets) on the face of the Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) along with extensive disclosure notes. Bodies under the Aegis and Local Authorities report under accounting framework FRS 102 and from 2024 Government Departments report using Central Government Accounting Standards based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards.
I believe that the information the Irish Public Sector makes available is among the best internationally, as it complies with recent Accounting Standards and has been guided by recommendations from international intergovernmental organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
272. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to detail the NUTS3 regional economic evaluation and analysis his Department uses in its evaluations. [42813/24]
View answerTo reference countries’ regions for statistical purposes, the EU has developed a classification known as NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics). NUTS divides each EU Member State into 3 levels:
• NUTS 1: major socio-economic regions
• NUTS 2: basic regions (for regional policies)
• NUTS 3: small regions (for specific diagnoses)
The Irish NUTS 3 regions comprise the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993.
Across the EU, the European Commission classifies regions within the Union as either being a “Less Developed Region”, a "Region in Transition” or a “More Developed Region”, based on their GDP per head of population relative to the EU27 Average. The Northern and Western Region is classified as a “Region in Transition” on the basis that its GDP is between 75%-100% of the EU27 average. The other two regions in Ireland, the Southern region and the Eastern and Midlands region, are classified as "More Developed" as their GDP is above 100% of the EU average. Under the Cohesion Policy rules set out in the Common Provision Regulation (CPR), regions classified as "Regions in Transition" like the Northern and Western benefit from a higher co-financing rate, where the EU provides 60% of the funding for programmes, whilst More Developed regions get a co-financing rate of 40%. In addition, under these rules, "Regions in Transition" have slightly more flexibility available in terms of the range of areas they can support in their programmes than "More Developed Regions".
I have responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and NUTs classification has an important role in determining ERDF allocation. ERDF allocated to each Member State is based on the amounts calculated for each of its individual regions by the Commission using averaged Eurostat data from relevant reference years (2015 to 2017 for the 2021-2027 funding period). While the weightings and amounts used in the calculations vary according to the category of region, the allocations for transition regions and more developed regions are established by taking account of each individual regions:
a) Population;
b) relative GDP per capita;
c) level of unemployment;
d) level of youth unemployment;
e) level of education attainment;
f) level of greenhouse gas emissions;
g) level of net migration from outside the EU; and additionally in the case of more developed regions
h) population density.
Based on the calculations undertaken by the Commission, Ireland was allocated a total of €395,716,021 in ERDF funding. The formal notification of this allocation from the Commission was based on category of region only – details at NUTS 2 or 3 level were not provided. From this allocation, the total for "Regions in Transition" (i.e. the Northern and Western region – Ireland’s only region in transition) was allocated €110,238,539 and the total allocation for Ireland’s “More Developed regions” (i.e. the Southern and the Eastern and Midland regions) was €285,477,482.
In recognition of the "Region in Transition" status of the Northern and Western region, I made a decision, in consultation with the Regional Assemblies, to transfer €20m in ERDF resources from the two "More Developed" regions to the Northern and Western region. My Department in conjunction with the Regional Assemblies, engaged with the Commission on this matter and secured their agreement on this use of ERDF funds. This increased the allocation in the Northern and Western region to €130,238,539.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I do not have a role in the revisions to NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions. Any queries in relation to this matter should be referred to my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
274. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW plans to put out a tender for the provision of mobile coffee and light snack dock at a location (details supplied). [42900/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works will be tendering for the provision of a mobile coffee and light snack dock at Casino Marino for the 2025 season.
A notification will be advertised on social media platforms and with a local newspaper. Any interested parties will have the opportunity to arrange a site visit ahead of the deadline. It is anticipated that the mobile unit would be operational on site for the start of the season in March 2025.
275. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of vacant properties owned by his Department; and the number of which are houses or residential properties. [43149/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties.
This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána, laboratories, warehouses as well as cultural institutions, heritage properties, visitor centres and sites.
In any major portfolio, there will always be a certain level of surplus vacant or non-operational properties. It is normal to have an amount of space vacant, or vacant properties, at any given time as the portfolio could not function without the flexibility that it provides. Not all vacant properties will be deemed surplus to the State’s requirements or suitable for disposal.
There are currently 46 vacant properties that are managed by the OPW. Thirteen of these buildings are currently under consideration or in the process of being transferred to local authorities or to other state bodies.
While the majority of buildings managed by the OPW are not suited to residential use, the OPW actively engages with other State agencies and provides details of any of its surplus vacant buildings or sites to the Land Development Agency, each relevant local authority, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, so that these buildings and sites can be assessed for suitability for housing or humanitarian purposes or for other state use.
However, many of the vacant surplus properties in the OPW portfolio were deemed unsuitable for residential use following assessment by the various agencies because they are older stock that would require significant investment to comply with current regulations for residential use, or are located in rural areas without the necessary services and supports.
Notwithstanding this, the OPW has in the past five years transferred over 50 properties to local authorities for housing and alternative State use. This includes the following:
• Eight residential units in Dublin City Centre that were leased to the Peter McVerry Trust.
• A building in Crumlin, Dublin licensed to Dublin City Council for use as a Family Hub.
• Seven former Garda residences in Templemore transferred to Tipperary County Council for social housing.
• Two former Garda station properties at Goleen and Adrigole transferred to Cork County Council for social housing.
• Three former Garda station properties at Galbally, Shanagolden and Mayorstone transferred to Limerick City and County Council for social housing.
• The former Garda station property at Malin transferred to Donegal County Council for social housing.
• The former Garda station at Inagh transferred to Clare County Council for the use of Inagh Housing Association.
In addition, there are a number of properties that are in the process of being transferred to local authorities and the Land Development Agency, such as:
• The former Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum to be transferred to the Land Development Agency for housing.
• Seven former coastguard cottages and a site at Crosshaven in the process of being transferred to Cork County Council for the refurbishment of the seven cottages and the construction of 24 new residential social houses.
• The former Garda station property and site at Buncrana in the process of being transferred to Donegal County Council for social housing.
• A site at the rear of Ballinasloe Garda station in the process of being transferred to Galway County Council for social housing.
• A property at Carrigrohane, Cork City in the process of being leased to Cork City Council for housing purposes.
Furthermore, the OPW is also engaged with the Land Development Agency and the Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage about the possibility of the additional transfer of lands at the Digital Hub and Inchicore in Dublin 8, and in Waterford City. Upon completion, the development of these OPW sites, in conjunction with adjoining public lands will provide a significant additional stock of new homes.
Lastly, the OPW keeps its office portfolio under constant review. The OPW has a very modest level of vacancy within its portfolio in comparison to international counterparts. If an owned office property is no longer required central Government policies on the disposal of surplus State properties will be followed.
A list of the vacant properties managed by the OPW and the status of each is attached at Appendix 1. This list does not include those properties that are an intrinsic part of heritage estates or gardens managed by the OPW that are not considered to be surplus to requirements or part of the OPW's disposal programme.
|
|
County |
Property |
Property Type |
Current Status |
|
Former Garda Stations Closed Under the 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans - Being prepared for disposal or alternative use (18) |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Cavan |
Bawnboy |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
2 |
Cork |
Ballyfeard |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
3 |
Cork |
Ballygurteen |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
4 |
Cork |
Knocknagree |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
5 |
Cork |
Rathduff |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
6 |
Donegal |
Na Brocacha / Cloghan |
Garda Station |
To be leased to Donegal County Council. |
|
7 |
Dublin |
Dalkey |
Garda Station |
Sorrento Road sold. Tubbermore Road sale agreed. |
|
8 |
Galway |
Ballymoe |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
9 |
Kerry |
Abbeydorney |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025 |
|
10 |
Kerry |
Brosna |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
11 |
Limerick |
Castletown Conyers |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
12 |
Limerick |
Kilfinane |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
13 |
Longford |
Ballinalee |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
14 |
Mayo |
Ballycastle |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. |
|
15 |
Mayo |
Glenisland |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025 |
|
16 |
Monaghan |
Newbliss |
Garda Station |
Under consideration by Monaghan County Council. |
|
17 |
Roscommon |
Knockcroghery |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
18 |
Wicklow |
Hollywood |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
Other Former Garda Stations (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Clare |
Lissycasey |
Garda Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
2 |
Donegal |
Buncrana |
Garda Station |
Intra State transfer to Donegal County Council. |
|
3 |
Sligo |
Ballymote |
Garda Station |
Under consideration for community group. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former Garda Residences (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Cork |
Kealkil |
Residence |
Being prepared for disposal - 2025. Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
2 |
Kerry |
Ballylongford |
Residence |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
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|
|
|
|
Former Coastguard Properties (10) |
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|
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1 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 4) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
2 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 5) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
3 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 7) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
4 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 8) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
5 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 9) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
6 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 10) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
7 |
Cork |
Crosshaven (cottage No. 11) |
Cottage |
Intra State transfer to Cork Co. Co for social housing scheme. |
|
8 |
Cork |
Crosshaven |
Rocket House |
Under consideration by Cork Co Co. |
|
9 |
Donegal |
Greencastle |
Rocket House |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024. |
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|
|
|
Former Customs Properties (2) |
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1 |
Donegal |
Burnfoot |
Station |
Future State use being examined. |
|
2 |
Louth |
Carrickcarnan |
Station |
Future State use being examined. |
|
Former Met Station Property (1) |
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|
|
|
|
1 |
Offaly |
Birr |
Met Station |
Being prepared for disposal - 2024/2025 |
|
Miscellaneous Buildings (11) |
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|
|
|
|
1 |
Clare |
Unit 153 Shannon Business Park |
Building (Not surplus) |
Future State use bing examined |
|
2 |
Cork |
Bannow House, Carrigrohane, Cork City. |
Residence |
To be leased to Cork City Council. |
|
3 |
Cork |
Old Blackrock Road |
Former OPW Office |
Alternative State use being examined. |
|
4 |
Dublin |
10-11 Castle Street |
Building |
Alternative State use being examined. |
|
5 |
Dublin |
Halston Street. (Former Debtors' Prison). |
Building |
Alternative State use being examined. |
|
6 |
Dublin |
44 O'Connell Street |
Building |
Intra State transfer/disposal under consideration. |
|
7 |
Dublin |
45 O'Connell street |
Building |
Intra State transfer/disposal under consideration. |
|
8 |
Dublin |
CMH Dundrum |
Building |
To be tranaferred to the LDA. |
|
9 |
Roscommon |
62 The Abbey, Cloontuskert |
Building |
Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
10 |
Roscommon |
Former National School, Cloontuskert |
Building |
Title issues to be resolved prior to disposal. |
|
11 |
Waterford |
Customs House (Merchants Quay) |
Building |
Alternative State use being examined. Part occupied by An Post. |
276. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if there is any provision for an ex section 38 staff member to bring their grade and pension with them when taking up a post in a Government department (details supplied). [43225/24]
View answerAppointments to the civil service through open competition are made subject to the advertised terms of the competition. In general, the terms allow that different conditions may apply to currently serving civil/public servants.
There are policies in place which allow currently serving civil/public servants to start above the minimum subject to certain conditions. Examples of such policies include, inter alia;
- Incremental Credit, as provided for through Circular 21/2004 and Circular 40/2007; and
- Appointment to Analogous Grades, as provided for through Circular 08/2019.
It is a matter for the employing department to determine the policies that apply to any particular appointment.
Similarly, with regard to pension arrangements, an individual appointed to a pensionable public service position will be offered the appropriate pension terms and conditions as applying in the civil service at the time of appointment, based on their public service employment history.
The terms of their pension scheme will determine the transfer arrangements that may apply with regard to previously accrued pension benefits. Transfer arrangements in most pre-existing (pre-2013) public service pension schemes are governed by the terms of the transfer scheme and associated Public Sector Transfer Network (PSTN). Certain eligibility criteria apply to this, including for example, that both the earlier and current employing bodies must participate in the PSTN and that there is no pension in payment in respect of the earlier service.
Transfer arrangements in the Single Scheme are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 and are set out in Circular 15/2019. It is not possible to transfer service accrued under a pre-existing public service pension scheme to the Single Scheme.
It is a matter for the individual’s employer/pension administrator to confirm whether her earlier pension benefits may be transferred under the terms of her current pension scheme.
277. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person is entitled to pay for bank holidays and public holidays accrued whilst receiving illness benefit. [42374/24]
View answerPublic holiday entitlements are set out in Section 21 of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
In respect of a public holiday, an employee is entitled to whichever of the following his/her employer determines:
• a paid day off on that day
• a paid day off within a month of that day
• an additional day of annual leave
• an additional day of pay
Under Section 21(4) of the Act, part-time workers are entitled to receive their public holiday entitlement when they have worked a total of 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks ending on the day before that public holiday.
As per Section 21 (5) of the Act, employees are not entitled to receive their public holiday entitlement if they are absent from work immediately before that public holiday in any of the below cases:
• The employee has been off work for more than 26 weeks due to an ordinary illness or an accident.
• The employee has been off work for more than 52 weeks due to an occupational accident.
