Office of Public Works Priorities and Progress: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-19
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Kevin Boxer Moran (IND), Longford-Westmeath

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senators for inviting me here. I am delighted to stand before them as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, in order to provide updates on significant progress across a number of priority areas.
I am proud to represent an organisation whose work touches every corner of our country, protecting our communities from flooding, preserving our heritage and providing the property and buildings infrastructure that underpins our public life. This Government has entrusted the OPW to deliver projects to the value of €1.845 billion under the national development plan. I am pleased to give the House a sense of some of the great work now under way. To date, this year has seen significant cultural, infrastructural and community-focused initiatives delivered by the OPW across the country. From major construction projects and heritage site enhancements to nationwide cultural celebrations and flood relief and supports, the OPW demonstrates a commitment to both preserving Ireland's culture and heritage and improving infrastructure under its remit.
Across all areas of the OPW, major construction milestones include: progression of the Moore Street project to tender stage; commencement of the National Concert Hall's Discover Centre; the commencement of a new regional Garda headquarters in Macroom, County Cork; and the awarding of a contract at Limerick's Opera Square. Redevelopment works include a €1.5 million visitor centre at Carrowmore megalithic site in Sligo and a €1.6 million upgraded visitor centre at Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands. The geographical spread of these projects illustrates Government commitment to balanced regional development and rural tourism.
The OPW completed the strategic purchase of the east wing of Block R, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1. Located adjacent to the convention centre, this prime site, secured at a competitive price, demonstrates the OPW's commitment to prudent financial management and represents a forward-thinking investment in public infrastructure. It ensures long-term, high-quality office space for the OPW, reducing reliance on leased properties and generating significant taxpayer savings. Overall, this purchase strengthens the Government's property portfolio and provides a stable asset for future public sector needs.
The Limerick opera project shows how targeted urban regeneration can drive balanced regional development. The OPW is working in partnership with Limerick 2030 to develop a 14-storey landmark office building that will accommodate up to 1,500 Government employees and form the centrepiece of the site. This project illustrates how central and local government can work collaboratively to deliver key infrastructure, and I was delighted to mark the commencement of this project earlier in the year. Works are advancing on site and the building is expected to be ready for occupation in 2029.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and OPW agreed to collaborate on the delivery of a building retrofit pathfinder programme from 2022 to 2024, with overall funding of €30 million received from the SEAI. The OPW undertook retrofits of a selection of OPW-managed buildings to develop an evidence base for building performance and develop a roadmap to prepare for a potentially larger national programme. The shared objectives were to deliver a scalable model for future retrofit interventions with a focus on renewable heat sources and a reduction of CO2 emissions. Some projects are ongoing and seven projects have been completed, including Government offices in Waterford, Tralee Garda station, Pallaskenry Garda station, Ennis Block 1 and Togher Garda station, with a combined spend of €6.5 million. The OPW energy upgrade of Kilcarn Government offices in County Meath is an example of this success. It was funded by the European Union under the national recovery and resilience plan, NRRP. The Kilcarn Government offices were originally constructed in 2007 and were later purchased by OPW. The floor area is 3,200 sq. m, housing multiple Departments and agencies.
In collaboration with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and An Garda Síochána, four new Garda stations are under construction. This programme represents a significant investment of approximately €150 million. Work is ongoing at Portlaoise, Newcastle West, Clonmel and Macroom. In addition, the Office of Public Works is in the process of completing other facilities for An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Training College in Templemore and the property and exhibits management system, PEMS, store building in Drogheda. The Garda estate is spread across the entire country and requires significant ongoing maintenance and renewal.
Early planning and design is progressing for a range of other projects. Priority projects are also under way to support Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July of this year. The Office of Public Works is the contracting authority for these projects, working closely and constructively with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in the role of overall approving authority and with An Garda Síochána as the sponsoring agency under the infrastructure guidelines.
The OPW is progressing a major refurbishment of Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, a seven-storey, 16,500 sq. m public building located on Store Street in Dublin 1. This project will comprehensively upgrade, repair and replace end-of-life building services and life safety systems.
As Senators are aware, flooding is a natural process that can occur at any time in a wide variety of locations. Flooding is one of the most significant challenges facing Ireland. It affects homes, businesses, infrastructure and the environment. As someone who has witnessed the devastation of flooding in my own constituency, I am acutely aware of the urgency and importance of our work. The whole-of-government flood risk management policy is centred on three strategic pillars: prevention, protection and preparedness. These policy areas are supported by the collection of relevant data, the development of relevant science and evidence, and undertaking assessments to inform where flood risks, now and into the future, need to be addressed.
The Government has committed €1.3 billion in flood risk management, FRM, measures through the national development plan. As part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW to treble to some 100 schemes at design, planning and construction at this time. The OPW and local authorities have been actively engaged in putting in place the necessary arrangements for the implementation of the priority flood relief schemes and work is well advanced in this regard.
Investment in projects associated with flood risk management, measures and programmes reached over €100 million in 2025. This significant expenditure reflects the high number of schemes at construction, with 11 schemes at construction in 2025. The OPW completed the Springfield flood relief scheme in August 2025. Under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme, the OPW has approved funding to date of €71.6 million for over 930 projects.
Completed projects under the scheme are protecting over 8,070 properties. The upper financial threshold for funding is increasing from €750,000 to €2 million for the minor works. The OPW will continue to carry out maintenance on arterial drainage scheme channels and embankments within its remit, with over 1,900 km of channel and 160 km of embankments maintained in 2025. In response to the Storm Chandra flooding earlier this year, I have recently announced that €6.6 million will be made available to eight local authorities to introduce interim flood protection measures in their administrative areas that can help mitigate the impact to communities from a similar flood event, ahead of next winter.
The OPW cares for Ireland’s national heritage estate, including 780 national monuments, including the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sceilg Mhicil and Brú na Bóinne, and 33 national historic properties, which include places like the Phoenix Park, Kilkenny Castle and Castletown House and estate. In addition, in the region of 100 stone buildings in Dublin are under our care, including Government Buildings, Leinster House, the Custom House, national cultural institutions and Áras an Uachtaráin.
The OPW employs a diverse workforce of almost 1,300 people in heritage roles. This dedicated and skilled workforce works daily in conserving the historic buildings of Dublin, maintaining our national monuments throughout the country, and maintaining and presenting our historic gardens and heritage sites to the highest standards. A key focus of our work is supporting apprenticeships in the traditional building and craft skills that are essential for the conservation of our built heritage.
I came to the Seanad over 16 months ago and, looking at where the OPW was then compared with where we are today, things have greatly improved. I did not do it on my own; I did it with the whole team. I say this clearly to everybody in the House. I am open to hear what people have to say themselves.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:57+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-19