Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Office of Public Works

11:00 pm

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct in that this will change even more in the next six, 12, or 18 months where we have a new blended working environment. We will now have situations, which we all have had already through the OPW-led campaign on energy consumption in public buildings, including this very building, where on some days we may have 10% to 15% occupancy. We will need to have very difficult conversations across our whole estate on whether everybody who works for the Civil Service, for instance, can continue to have the same sort of desk and office accommodation space they previously had while they are working 20% to 30% of the time in a remote location or at home and where in the meantime the State is keeping the lights on.

The Deputy is correct that this is an opportune time to have a discussion on this, but she is also correct in the context of what the Office of Public Works does. I would contend that, since 1830, when this office was established, the OPW's role has actually shrunk. Now I would say to my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, that it is time to widen that remit in respect of the other State-owned Ireland Inc. buildings for which we are not responsible but for which we should be.

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