John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 99: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of premises and sites being rented or leased not in use and the cost of maintenance and security on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36378/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Office of Public Works leases three buildings where the accommodation is presently unallocated. The cost of maintenance and security is included in expenditure attaching to service charges and the pertinent details are as follows:

Westward Town Centre, Sligo, Co Sligo, service charge per annum: €2,630.16;

Phoenix House, Conyngham Road, Dublin 8, service charge per annum: €85,000;

Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1, service charge per annum: € 64,982.64.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 100: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, regarding the installation of rain water harvesting systems in property owned by the State or agencies under its control, if it is policy to install such systems in new buildings; if examples of such buildings opened in the past five years or currently at design stage can be outlined; if there is a policy or encouragement given to retrofit such harvesting systems into existing buildings; if any financial study on such retrofitting has been undertaken; and if results of same can be outlined. [36420/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The use of rainwater harvesting systems in buildings is a relatively new practice in Ireland. It is not OPW policy to install such systems in all new buildings. However, for the last number of years the installation of these systems has been considered as part of the design process for new buildings. Rainwater harvesting systems have been installed in a number of projects to date including new offices in Wexford, Killarney, and Roscommon. Rainwater harvesting systems also formed part of the design for a number of projects that did not proceed to construction.

The installed systems have in general proved problematic and have incurred significant ongoing maintenance costs. Whereas the use of these systems has obvious advantages, we are in the phase of learning from experience in the buildings that have been completed to date.

There is no programme for retrofitting such systems into existing buildings due to the significant capital outlay required to modify the plumbing within the building to facilitate the systems. The current emphasis for the OPW is on water conservation. A recent pilot study in a number of large buildings has identified that there is significant scope for reducing water consumption within the existing OPW portfolio. A programme of automatic water metering in all large State buildings is proposed for 2012. In buildings where consumption remains high despite conservation efforts, rainwater harvesting may prove economically feasible. In such cases the retrofitting of these systems shall be considered.