Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the continued advertisement of non-established grade positions in the Office of Public Works even though there are well established concerns regarding the ability of OPW guides employed as non-established civil servants to access promotion in the broader public sector. [22497/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The OPW employs approximately 2500 staff across a wide range of craft, technical, administrative, and management disciplines.  All staff have important roles to play that bring great value to those availing of OPW services.  While there are many different grades and classifications of employee involved, the OPW values all of its staff equally and works hard to minimise the impact of the historical differences in Terms and Conditions that apply between the employment categories involved so that the organisation is one team – one OPW.

Guides in the Office of Public Works are technically classified as “industrial employees” and are recruited to the OPW in a non-established capacity. They enjoy the same Terms & Conditions as “industrial employees” in other areas of the civil service.    

A non-established State employee is a person employed in a whole-time capacity by a Government Department or Office who is not an established civil servant. Non-established State employees are not covered by the Civil Service Regulations Act, 1956. 

Like all non-established State employees, Guides in the OPW have access to all open competitions for posts in the civil and public service. It is, however, the case that competitions initiated under the Civil Service Regulations Acts are confined to staff who have Civil Servant status.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if restoration works carried out on the first floor of Emo Court will be affected by the roof restoration works currently underway; and if additional works on the first floor will be required as a result. [22498/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Emo Court was acquired by the State in 1994 and since then the estate has seen substantial improvements through the efforts of the OPW and their team on the ground. Recent developments at the site include the installation of a new car park, the opening to the public of the eastern walled garden, the defoliation of the lake, and the improvement of the site-wide path network.

At present, repair and restoration works are underway throughout the interior of Emo Court. The works being carried out on the first floor include mechanical and electrical upgrades and firestopping upgrades. While there are no roof restoration works being carried out at this time, roof restoration works are intended with plans currently at preliminary design stage. It is not anticipated that additional building works will be required on the first floor when the roof restoration is complete. 

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the detailed breakdown of works carried out on the entrance hall of Kilkenny Castle and associated costs of those works. [22499/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In 2020, arising from the COVID19 pandemic, the OPW closed its heritage visitor sites to the public, in line with Government guidelines. Kilkenny Castle remained closed during this time and this offered a unique opportunity for the OPW to upgrade parts of the Castle interior while there were no visitors in attendance. These upgrades included painting, necessary maintenance works, and upgrading of lighting.

Works carried out specifically in the entrance hall of Kilkenny Castle comprise of walls being painted green; two plinths were made to display urns; four chairs were refurbished; one display case was fabricated; antlers and swords, which are on loan, were put on display and a lantern was replaced with another which was in storage.

Associated costs are not currently available due to a temporary technical issue with the OPW finance system but will be furnished directly to the Deputy as soon as the finance system is accessible again.