Results 81-100 of 464 for garda speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works can confirm that a routine inspection early last year at Shannon Garda Station raised concerns in respect to cracking observed in the external façade of the building. The OPW appointed external consultants to investigate the cause of this cracking and the consultant’s report confirmed the presence of pyrite in the external leaf of the building. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public works can confirm that refurbishment works, with costs in excess of €5,000, were carried out to Garda Stations in Meath Garda division in 2022 and to-date in 2023. The Garda Stations along with the nature and status of the works is outlined in the table below. Meath Division Garda Stations Description of works where the costs were in excess...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...is estate management, and this continues to fund the design, upkeep and modernisation of a significant number of properties within the State’s property portfolio. This includes heritage sites, Civil Service office accommodation for all Departments, An Garda Síochána and many State agencies. In all, the OPW manages in excess of 2,500 properties on behalf of the State,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...ongoing process of disposal or reuse of vacant properties for different State bodies and agencies, including local authorities and Departments. The current vacant building stock includes 31 former Garda stations, on most of which we are in discussion with local authorities or local groups or we have a plan to dispose of them by way of public auction, regrettably, where local authorities...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...the request of public bodies and on the request of Accounting Officers. In this case, the OPW commissioned the building of the Scott House at Military Road on the specification and request of An Garda Síochána at a particular point in time with the emphasis being placed on relocating all of the personnel on time and on budget from Harcourt Square in Harcourt Street, which we...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...I would acknowledge is that we built the building that we were asked to build for the number of people who we were asked to be put into it and it took a number of years to build that building. An Garda Síochána expanded its resources, which it did because the Government ploughed funding into the Garda to increase the number of gardaí, while a Garda station and a Garda...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...we do not have it. Whatever might or might not be in a newspaper, the Office of Public Works, as the commissioners of public works, takes its requests from the Accounting Officers, in this case An Garda Síochána.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...'s public works accommodation, the OPW engages with the Accounting Officer who outlines the demand. The Deputy is suggesting going off and say we know better, we will not do whatever it is the Garda is looking for and, even though not all the people in this building are going to move to the new building, we will assume they all will and add on an extra couple of floors. How could I get...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In the intervening period, it is at the discretion of the Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána to develop as they see fit new units, new mobile units and new specialised units - all of which happened. The Garda is a fluid organisation which grows and changes all the time. In the intervening period, from the time a major made development of this nature is initiated, the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Perhaps I can answer without interruption this time. The building we were asked to build has been built as per the specification of the Accounting Officer concerned, namely, the Garda Commissioner. With respect to the design and layout of the offices, the State architect would carry out all that work in conjunction with all the relevant people in An Garda Síochána and would have...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Yes. Contingency plans were developed in the event that Garda security and other issues were not fully completed at the time. In the event that we were not able to vacate - which we were actually able to do - we had contingency plans prepared. Works are ongoing on Clyde House and block J, which is in the Phoenix Park, into 2023. There was also work on the Intreo office on the Navan Road,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: All of the matters about Garda accommodation and needs will be determined by the Accounting Officer, the Garda Commissioner, in his multi-annual capital programme. We carry out the works for him. It is in our interest and everybody's interest that the maximum amount of money is apportioned for physical infrastructure to the Garda because we have an ambitious plan across the country-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Block J is in the Phoenix Park, which is already part of Garda headquarters, and it requires works to be carried. Some work was also carried out at 52 St. Stephen's Green, a building vacated by the OPW almost 18 months ago.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not have the details in front of me because we do not determine what the Gardaí does within its offices. We can get a more detailed answer, through the Garda, for the Deputy.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I need to correct one small thing. This is not a Garda headquarters. Military Road is a supporting office accommodation for An Garda Síochána. Further accommodation will be freed up in Garda headquarters now that the forensic science laboratory has moved to a new location. The former OPW building, 52 St. Stephen's Green, is temporary. The other accommodation, including that...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy will appreciate that these are operational issues for the Garda. The specific needs and asks of gardaí, in respect of refurbishment or additional accommodation, routinely come to us in the OPW and we often have to get either temporary or permanent accommodation for them. This depends on whether there are new units in the Garda or there are elements of the organisation that...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: ...is a hugely important infrastructure to be handed over to the State. We will also modify the building that it vacates. I want to make it very clear to the committee; we work very well with the Garda Commissioner. His asks are being met by the OPW, notwithstanding the huge challenges that are faced due to inflation and other issues such as complicated sites in terms of archaeological...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (22 Feb 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Not that I am aware of. For the benefit of the committee, two national Garda bureaus are currently accommodated at Clyde House. Heads of terms have been agreed with the landlord and the Chief State Solicitor's office. A lease was executed in 2022 and the fit out commenced in September 2022. Substantial work is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.