Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak about the 2007 Abridged Estimates and the Office of Public Works' programme for next year. I am glad to report the published allocation of €612 million represents an increase of 10% over the 2006 provision. Through the allocation of considerable additional resources amounting to €170 million to the Office of Public Works Vote, the Government has once again demonstrated its total support for the rollout of the decentralisation programme.

As one of the biggest infrastructural projects undertaken by the State in recent times, this programme represents a major undertaking for the OPW. It involves the relocation of more than 10,000 civil and public servants, 50 Government Departments and offices and more than 50 different locations in 23 counties. From OPW's point of view there are two main aspects to the programme, one being the identification and procurement of suitable sites and the other being the construction and fitting out of buildings on these sites. I am happy to report that real progress is being made on both fronts.

To date, property acquisition negotiations have been completed or significantly advanced in 36 locations and 2007 will see the acceleration of the programme with a number of site acquisitions to be finalised in the coming months. To date, decentralising organisations have established a presence in 12 new locations with moves already having taken place to Sligo, Portlaoise, Thurles, Tipperary town and Na Forbacha in Galway.

In parallel with the acquisition of permanent accommodation solutions, the Office of Public Works has been involved in sourcing temporary solutions in 18 locations to accommodate advance parties. These temporary solutions will allow the early movement of staff to their desired locations.

The decentralisation implementation group in its most recent report expressed its satisfaction on progress to date in terms of property acquisition. The group noted that significant progress has been made as is evidenced by the fact that approximately 500 staff are currently in new locations and that more than 2,100 staff have already been reassigned to decentralising posts.

In providing accommodation, a number of procurement methods are being employed including client led design build, design build, and design build finance maintain. Although property solutions will include leasing and fitting-out of existing buildings, construction of new buildings is the preferred option in terms of providing accommodation for decentralising Government Departments and offices.

The public private partnership approach recommended by the decentralisation implementation group will see the construction of new offices for the Departments of Agriculture and Food, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Education and Science in Portlaoise, Carlow and Mullingar, respectively. This project will be moved forward to the tender stage at the earliest possible date with a view to the buildings being in place in the first half of 2009.

During 2007 considerable progress will be made in establishing a number of new departmental headquarters buildings such as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in Wexford, the Department of Defence in Newbridge and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in Knock. Planning permission has been obtained and contracts are expected to be placed in the near future for a new headquarters building for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in Killarney and a new facility for the Department of Education and Science in Athlone. In respect of my Department, a preferred tenderer has been selected and a planning application has been lodged for the new OPW headquarters in Trim. It is estimated that approximately 210,000 sq. m of office space will be required to accommodate the total numbers included in the programme. The cost of providing accommodation in provincial locations compared with central Dublin locations should yield considerable cost savings to the State over time in terms of site costs, capital build costs and maintenance costs.

As I have stated previously it is one of my principal objectives as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to transform underutilised State properties and turn them into realisable assets. This rationalisation and consolidation of office accommodation in Dublin has resulted in the release and sale of surplus office accommodation in Dublin. To date this year alone €221 million has been surrendered to the Exchequer following such sales and since the Government's decentralisation announcement OPW has realised €362 million on the sale of properties.

OPW will continue to be fully engaged across the entire range of its activities in 2007 and next year will see an increased emphasis on the capital element of the flood risk management programme. In 2004, following the review of flood policy that I initiated, the Government adopted a new policy on flood management in line with internationally changing perspectives. Lead responsibility for the implementation of that policy was assigned to the Office of Public Works. In acknowledging that information is critical to the process of sustainable development, additional resources were made available in 2006 on the engineering group of subheads to facilitate the studies required for the implementation of the policy on flood risk management. This has allowed and will allow for the development of comprehensive information databases, understanding and expertise in the areas of river engineering and hydrology that can only be secured with the most up-to-date gauging equipment.

A tangible measure of the progress in this area has been evident in recent months which saw the launch of the new flood mapping website. It is widely accepted that the availability of such maps is the essential foundation on which to build a comprehensive flood prevention policy. My officials examined best practice in other jurisdictions and availed of the experience gathered to launch www.floodmaps.ie. The flood hazard mapping website has been well received by all and has certainly raised debate and interest in many areas. The availability of these maps is the essential foundation on which to build a comprehensive flood prevention policy. OPW is also working with local authorities and other agencies in the preparation of flood studies for a number of urban areas and where necessary they will provide a basis for the design of flood relief schemes.

The increase in the 2007 flood relief capital allocation to €32 million will allow the office to accelerate the regenerated flood relief programme in 2007 and it is anticipated that major schemes at Clonmel, Waterford and Mallow will all soon start. This will provide much needed reassurance for the people and communities concerned, as is evident following the success of schemes in Kilkenny and along the River Tolka.

An allocation of €141.35 million is included on Vote 10 for new works, alterations and additions to Government accommodation. In recent years we have seen the successful provision of 400,000 sq. ft. of new accommodation for the State Laboratory, and Department of Agriculture and Food laboratories, and the relocation of the Marine Institute to Galway under this subhead. The emphasis in 2007 will switch to the Department of Agriculture and Food farm located in Abbotstown which will be relocated to a 350-acre farm in Longtown, Clane, County Kildare. The new facility will include animal compounds, an administration building and an experimental challenge building.

Other examples of the major projects to be managed in 2007 include the provision of accommodation for the Department of Finance at Merrion Row, a new Garda and Department of Social and Family Affairs building in Ballymun, and the refurbishment and additions to the Assay Office in Dublin Castle. The Merrion Row accommodation, for example, will comprise 46,000 sq. ft. at 7 to 9 Merrion Row with an underground pedestrian link to Government Buildings. It will be a signature landmark building adjacent to St. Stephen's Green and will account for €18 million of the allocation in 2007.

The OPW will continue its major programmes of refurbishment of Garda stations, cultural institutions and general office accommodation in 2007. The Office of Public Works will continue to implement the most up-to-date measures required under the recent Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act for all Government office accommodation. The Government and OPW are committed to the principle that all building environments should be accessible to everyone and an allocation of €5 million has been ring fenced specifically for the universal access programme in the new works subhead. However, this does not represent the full extent of OPW expenditure on disabled access, as all our major new construction projects, including the decentralisation programme, are accessible to all.

The Office of Public Works continues to manage more than 1 million sq. m of Government accommodation consisting of almost 2,000 buildings of which 41% is leased. Although a considerable allocation of €124 million has been provided in the Abridged Estimates for rents and rates in 2007, this represents only a minor increase on the 2006 allocation. Rented accommodation, however, is essential as it affords the office the necessary flexibility to respond to urgent requirements for Departments and is provided for under subhead F3 rents and rates.

The national monuments and historic properties service has responsibility for some 775 sites and will account for €42.7 million of the OPW Vote in 2007, a significant proportion of the overall Estimate. The management of national monuments and historic properties, including the provision of visitor services for the public has been successfully merged into the day-to-day operations of the office in recent years, which has led to a more coherent approach to protection and maintenance of our natural heritage and historic built environment.

The members of this House and the public can be assured that I have secured sufficient funding to enable the Office of Public Works to continue and advance its activities in all areas of responsibility entrusted to it by Government.

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