Office of Public Works

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Questions (57)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an estimate of the average occupancy rate of OPW managed office space both inside and outside Dublin or confirm that no such estimate has been made in recent years by the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22741/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The publication of Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER) Circular 1 of 2025, on the Management & Maintenance of Accommodation in Government Departments confirms that the day to day operation and management of attendance within allocated spaces within the OPW portfolio is the responsibility of each client Department.

This Circular obliges the collection of occupancy data by OPW Clients in spaces which are allocated to them, and will provide a more accurate picture of the actual occupancy of buildings on an ongoing basis. The process of compiling and quality checking reports is ongoing and the process will be refined in 2026 to ensure this consistency / quality. The OPW will publish the 2026 data in early 2027, or as soon as meaningful and comparable information is available in a consistent manner.

The process that OPW has put in place following the publication of DPER circular 01/2025 will assist OPW in working with our clients to realise further efficiencies across the portfolio.