Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
62. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will make the OPW office and facilities in Trim available for the use of community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11090/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) owns and maintains a number of buildings in Trim including its Head Office at Jonathan Swift Street and the OPW Newtown Depot. The Newtown Depot consists of Engineering Workshops, National Monuments Stores, Welfare Facilities and Office accommodation. All available space in Newtown is fully utilised by the OPW.
At present the Trim HQ building houses public sector staff from An Garda Síochána, the Office of Government Procurement, the National Council for Special Education and the OPW itself. The office, as designed, is currently operating with maximum staff allocation and there is no vacant space.
Whilst there are no permanent hosting arrangements available in either of the local OPW Trim buildings the organisation has in the past provided assistance to some community groups with once off access to its facilities, including providing access for the Trim Women’s Shed to allow them display an exhibition in the atrium, the athletics club for parking facilities for their annual 10k run and the Púca festival to assist with their annual parade.
I greatly appreciate and acknowledge the valuable work that such organisations do within the community. However, the OPW is unable to accommodate out-of-hours hosting access to either of its Trim facilities, based on operational, safety and security constraints.
The OPW remains committed to supporting community initiatives, where feasible.
