Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has plans to upgrade the State-owned motor taxation office in Shannon, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15646/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Transport (DoT) operate the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services from a State owned building in Shannon Town Centre (Shannon VRU). The building requires significant investment to address building fabric issues that have arisen over a number of years. This investment was under consideration when an opportunity to acquire a substantial property consisting of offices / warehousing in the Shannon area was identified. The property was acquired by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and has the potential to meet the long term requirements of the DoT and other State bodies in the area.

A master-planning exercise for the newly acquired building, Unit 153 Shannon Free Zone (Shannon 153), was underway when the building was allocated to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), for conversion to residential use, as part of the emergency response to the increased demand for accommodation for those seeking international protection in Ireland.

Earlier this year, DCEDIY informed the OPW that it was releasing this property back to the OPW as it is no longer under consideration for accommodation for International Protection Applicants.

As a result of the ongoing issues in Shannon VRU, it is the OPW’s intention to decant staff currently operating from Shannon VRU to an alternative location. A potential solution had been identified in the Government Offices in Ennis, however, the OPW now intend to utilise Shannon 153 as the decant solution, following its release back to the OPW.

The OPW are engaging with the DoT to ensure their requirements are met in Shannon 153 in the most efficient manner.

The OPW continue to work with the DoT to identify any measures that can be put in place to mitigate the impact of the building fabric issues in their current building. The long term use of this building is under consideration.