Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
36. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the spend in 2025 on leasing buildings by the OPW, the estimated cost in 2026 and whether all of these spaces are fully utilised currently. [51016/26]
View answerWhile the publication of the OPW Appropriation Account for 2025 has yet to be published, the spend on leasing buildings in 2025 was approximately €106.4 million.
The Office of Public Works has been provided an allocation of provided for €108.75 million for leasing buildings in 2026.
In considering the occupancy of buildings, I note that between 2015 and 2025, the number of full time equivalent (FTE) civil servants employed in Ireland increased by just over 50%. The total area of office accommodation managed, as reported by the OPW, decreased by 1% in the same period.
The OPW has been actively engaged with its clients since the widespread emergence of blended working to encourage the efficient use of space across its office portfolio. This was highlighted as part of the 2025 report published by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
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.
