Office of Public Works

Thursday, 6 February 2025

Questions (70)

Joanna Byrne

Question:

70. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an urgent update on the work undertaken by the Office of Public Works to identify a permanent driving test centre site in Drogheda; what communication has taken place between the Office of Public Works and the Road Safety Authority in the past 12 months; if he will outline the potential sites that have been considered or investigated in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3679/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The Office of Public Works (OPW) have responsibility for providing office accommodation for a large number of Government Departments and State Agencies within the State, including the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA have a number of priority locations around the country where accommodation for a Driving Test Centre (DTC) is required, including within the Drogheda area.

In the last 12 months, the OPW have requested and received a brief of requirements for a DTC in Drogheda from the RSA. However, the process of identifying a suitable location to site a DTC in Drogheda has been challenging, given that any proposed location must be located on a suitable test route, be as free from traffic congestion as possible and provide dedicated parking. These constraints have resulted in limited options being available.

The OPW will continue to review its portfolio of owned and leased buildings, as well as any opportunities that might arise in the commercial property market, in an effort to identify suitable accommodation for a DTC in the Drogheda area.