Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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192. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any properties owned or managed by the Office of Public Works have been designated or refurbished as accommodation centres for those seeking international protection or to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection; if so, the location and details relating to same; the costs associated with the refurbishment of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60154/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages a property portfolio in excess of 2,500 properties ranging from heritage buildings, commercial office blocks, green field sites, warehouses, Coast Guard Stations and Garda Stations.  Given the types and age of these properties, most are not suited to residential use or would require significant investment to comply with current building regulations for use as residential property.  However, the OPW has actively engaged with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) in providing information on any non-operational, vacant buildings owned.  That Department then assesses those buildings in terms of what might be suitable for residential use. 

As the Deputy is aware, the OPW has been asked by Government to develop the programme of rapid build modular homes, on behalf of the DCEDIY which is the lead Government Department for the emergency humanitarian response.  The OPW is the Sponsoring Agency for the purposes of rolling out the programme, with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) identifying sites that might be suitable.  

Those sites are then assessed by the Department (DCEDIY) in terms of location, access to local facilities, with the OPW undertaking the necessary technical site assessments.  When sites are identified as suitable, the OPW will be responsible for site preparation and the acquisition and installation of the homes onto the sites.  Thereafter, the DCEDIY will take over the management of the sites and the housing units. 

In that regard, the OPW is contributing three of its sites for development – at Cavan, Thurles and Claremorris.  These sites are included in an initial phase of site development on State owned lands around the country to achieve a target of an initial 500 housing units by February 2023.  Other sites in the first phase are in Cork and Sligo (owned by the Local Authorities), with a number of other sites currently being assessed for further phases over the coming months, in order to reach the target number of homes.  In addition, the OPW has made a large property in Shannon available to DCEDIY, which is currently being considered for emergency accommodation. 

The OPW has provided a list of its limited number of vacant properties, including former Garda stations, to DCEDIY, DHLGH and the relevant local authorities so that they can assess them for suitability for social or humanitarian housing purposes.  The OPW continues to engage with other State bodies on a regular basis in this regard. 

In relation to costs associated with the above works for developing sites for rapid build homes, the final costings can only be determined once the full site selection process and related site investigation works are completed; as well as agreeing the final order for the manufacture, delivery and installation of the homes for the full phase of the programme.  As with any such developments, the site costs will vary depending on the technical conditions such as access, ground conditions, boundaries and site services etc. 

Similarly, in relation to potential building refurbishments, the costs will vary depending on factors such as the age and condition of the property and the scale of works required to repurpose a property into residential use.