Thursday, 2 May 2024

Ballincollig Weir, which is part of Ballincollig Regional Park, is in the ownership of Cork City Council since the boundary change between Cork County and City in June 2019. The Weir had apparently been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, which has left the weir in extremely poor condition.

While there are no hydraulic benefits to the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme from the weir, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group in 2021, committed to the incorporation of remedial works to the weir as part of the construction contract and budget for the Scheme, if appropriate.

The nature of any such remedial works will be subject to an assessment of planning, structural, fisheries and cultural heritage considerations, which the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group has asked the Scheme’s design consultants, contracted by the OPW, to review. The consultants’ proposal to undertake a preliminary feasibility assessment and constraints study for the reinstatement of Ballincollig Weir has been approved and is ongoing. Site surveys and inspections have now been completed, and the OPW expects to receive a draft report for review from our consultants within the coming weeks.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for the management of gross voted expenditure and the annual estimates process, general sanctioning powers in relation to expenditure and policy matters relating to the appraisal, review and evaluation of expenditure.

The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not entered into any contracts with the company in question.

The Government has committed €165 billion funding for capital investment, as set out in the NDP published in October 2021. This expenditure was considered and agreed in order to support those sectors that would be key in delivering the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF).  Last March, additional funding of €2.25 billion has also been agreed for the period out to 2026 to further boost capital delivery in the NDP.

The NDP contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which will contribute towards the achievement of these NSOs, including NSO 2 which relates to Enhanced Regional Accessibility. This strategic outcome seeks to enhance intra-regional accessibility through improved transport links between key urban centres of population and their respective regions, as well as improving transport links between the regions.

At the core of Project Ireland 2040, is the policy of supporting balanced regional growth. To underpin this, the Government is committed to enabling better regional accessibility. Some projects successfully delivered under NSO 2 include:

N5 Westport to Turlough

PPP: M11 Gorey-Enniscorthy Motorway

N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin

M8/N25 Dunkettle Interchange

M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Widening and

PPP: N25 New Ross Bypass.

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 2 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and which provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.  

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

Kilmainham Gaol, National Monument 675, opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin and closed in 1924.  Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23. Leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 were detained and in some cases executed here.

The Kilmainham complex is spread across two buildings, the Gaol itself incorporating the Kilmainham Gaol Museum and the adjacent Kilmainham Courthouse which was acquired from the Dept. of Justice to provide enhanced Visitor Facilities for the Gaol as part of the 1916 Centenary Commemorations.  The Gaol houses an extensive archive of material not only relating to the seminal moments in Ireland’s struggle for independence, but also reflecting the social history of crime and punishment pertaining to the period of its operation as a place of incarceration for the ordinary citizen. 

The Invincibles were a militant group within the Irish Republican Brotherhood or Fenians.  Following the assassination on 6th May 1882 of Lord Frederick Cavendish, Chief Secretary and Thomas Burke, the Permanent Undersecretary in the Phoenix Park by a group who came to be known as the Invincibles, five people were eventually charged and convicted. 

The Office of Public Works is aware of a campaign led by the National Graves Association to exhume the bodies of the men involved and re-inter them in the Republication plot in Glasnevin.  As the Deputy has previously been advised, there are a number of matters to consider, both in terms of the significant practicalities and the ethical issues involved.

Presently, desktop research is being undertaken, looking at a number of historic document sources to establish is any relevant records or information exists.  This is ongoing as I speak and as such, the Office of Public Works has not recently been in contact with the National Graves Association to discuss this matter. 

Once this piece of research is complete, OPW intends to re-engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and will, if required, at that stage, engage with the organisation named.  

Finally, I would like to thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter and reassure him that the Office of Public Works will, of course, work with all relevant Government Agencies to reach a conclusion to this matter.

The Office of Public Works (OPW), as the lead agency for flood risk management, is coordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s National Flood Risk Policy. A broad range of structural and non-structural measures have already been implemented to address flood risk under an approach structured around three pillars: prevention, protection and preparedness.

The OPW engages with other departments and state agencies through a variety of groups. Focusing on the ‘protection’ pillar, in particular, key groups include the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group, the Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group, and the National ‘Floods’ Directive Co-ordination Group. I will outline the work of each of these groups in brief.

In 2016, the Government established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to improve co-ordination between all state agencies involved with the River Shannon and to introduce coordinated flood risk solutions. The Group coordinates the work of all the members to maximise flood risk mitigation. The Group meets bi-annually and last met on 10 April 2024.

To add to the overall flood protection from flood relief schemes, the Group produces an annual Work Programme that demonstrates the extensive work and co-ordination by all State bodies to jointly and proactively help address flood risk on the Shannon under the following themes of activity: physical works, maintenance, water management, regulatory, policy and planning. The Group is currently progressing a number of collaborative initiatives including a planned programme of strategic maintenance works. The Group has developed a new website to provide comprehensive information about the work being done by State Agencies to mitigate flooding on the River Shannon. The website is available at rivershannongroup.ie.

The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group, chaired by the OPW, is a whole-of-Government cross-sectoral Group that co-ordinates national flood policy development and implementation. The purpose of the Group is to have regard to the extent of non-structural solutions that are informing the implementation strategy of the 2018 Flood Risk Management Plans and to ensure that policies that can benefit communities and individuals directly are carefully considered.

The Group is progressing a wide range of significant policy initiatives, including avoiding construction in flood-prone areas, protecting at-risk communities against their significant flood risk, and planning for responding to reduce the impacts of flood events on communities and individuals. Many actions identified are now being implemented by the relevant Departments and Offices. The Group typically meets twice per annum and last met on 23 November 2023, and a further meeting is due to be held shortly.

The National ‘Floods’ Directive Co-ordination Group was established in 2018 to follow on from the National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme Steering Group, which held its final meeting in June 2018 following the publication of the Flood Risk Management Plans and the completion of the National CFRAM Programme.

The purpose of the Group is to facilitate a coordinated, whole-of-Government approach to the implementation of the Floods Directive in Ireland. The Group typically meets twice per annum and last met on 29 November 2023, and a further meeting is due to be held shortly.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

NSO 4 – Sustainable Mobility aims to invest in high-quality sustainable mobility to improve the quality of life of all our citizens, support our transition to a low-carbon society and enhance our economic competitiveness.  The Department of Transport published the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI) in 2021 which sets out the prioritisation for future investment in the land transport network. 

The right transport investment helps to deliver high-quality travel and supports positive outcomes for society, the environment and the economy.  Investment in NSO 4 projects to be delivered in support of Project Ireland 2040 over the coming years include the DART+ Programme, which is a series of projects that will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin with all of the lines linked and connected.

BusConnects is an investment programme to fundamentally transform the bus systems in our major cities, so that journeys for passengers by bus will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable.

The National Transport Authority is in the process of developing cycling plans for each county under the CycleConnects plan. 

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 4 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.  

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

The Government has committed €165 billion funding for capital investment, as set out in the NDP published in October 2021. This level of expenditure was considered and agreed in order to support those sectors that would be key in delivering the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF). Following the conclusion of more than 30 bilateral meetings which took place from January to March this year with my Ministerial colleagues, the distribution of an additional €2.25 billion in capital funding across Departments for the period 2024-26 was agreed by Government in March 2024. This builds on the existing funding already available under the NDP out to 2026 and it will mean more schools, housing, transport, healthcare projects and enhanced cultural and sporting amenities can be progressed and delivered for our people.

The NDP contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which will contribute towards the achievement of the NSOs.

With these points noted, I would be glad to give the Deputy an overview of the NSO 7 which is the delivery of Enhanced Amenity and Heritage. Ireland’s heritage – is of fundamental importance to all aspects of our society, our identity, our well-being and our economy.

Investment in our heritage has the dual benefit of protecting our natural and historic built environment while improving health, wellbeing and providing a catalyst for the economy through the development of recreational activities and the expansion of tourism as appropriate within heritage sites.

Heritage investment priorities include: development of our natural parks and reserves, and safeguarding Ireland’s Historic Environment through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Historic Structures Fund.

Investment priorities include: the enhancement of sports facilities throughout Ireland with the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund; Digitisation of the National Collections; and, the National Cultural Institutions Investment Programme. Specific projects range from the refurbishment of the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork, to the development of world-class sporting facilities at the Sport Ireland Campus. Investment priorities for tourism in the short term will include the further development and promotion of the regional tourism experience brands such as the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

The Government is committed to detailing progress on the delivery of the NDP at regular intervals and details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 7 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools, cultural and sporting amenities and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.   

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

NSO 8 – Transition to a Climate-Neutral and Climate-Resilient Society requires a radical restructuring of our society and economy to reduce fossil fuel use and move rapidly to a climate-neutral economic model by 2050.  Investment in NSO 8 will not only contribute to the objective of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 but also lay the pathway to achieve the national climate objective of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  The Climate Action Plan 2024, which was published in December 2023, sets out the actions, measures, policies and plans to meet the emission reduction targets required by our carbon budgets and sectoral emission ceilings. The plan contains actions Ireland must implement to meet our emissions reduction targets and to achieve net zero emissions no later than 2050.

In recognition of the need for additional investment to assist Ireland deal with the transition to climate neutrality, and deal with nature, water and biodiversity degradation, the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024 was published in April.  The fund will support designated environmental projects specifically related to the achievement of climate and nature goals.

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 8 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.  

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are available on gov.ie/2040.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case.  Expenditure is therefore allocated and monitored on a Departmental basis and not a geographical basis.

The Government has committed €165 billion towards capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 published in 2021.  Following the conclusion of more than 30 bilateral meetings which took place from January to March with my Ministerial colleagues, on 27 March I was pleased to announce that I had reached agreement on the distribution of an additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts which we are committing to shovel-ready capital projects out to 2026. This builds on the existing funding of €165 billion already available under the NDP and it will mean more schools, housing, transport and healthcare projects can be progressed and delivered for our people.

With my colleague Minister McGrath I was also delighted to publish on April 4, the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024 which will seek to deal with the pro-cyclicality of capital spending. A €14 billion reserve will be established over the period 2024 to 2030 and this will provide support for the economy in times of exceptional need and help to maintain the record high levels of investment we currently see. This important initiative will serve to protect capital expenditure into future and ensure the continued delivery of important capital projects for the benefit of all our citizens.

In 2024, over €13 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects.  This level of expenditure will be pivotal in consolidating the progress already made, supporting balanced regional development and, most importantly, delivering the necessary infrastructure to support our future climate change obligations as well as our social and economic requirements. 

The Government will continue to detail the delivery of the NDP at regular intervals into the future to allow for full transparency on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040. This will be achieved through regular updates of the Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and map as well as the publication of annual reports and regional reports highlighting Project Ireland 2040 achievements and giving a detailed overview of the public investments which have been made throughout the country, including in Cork city.

The latest capital investment tracker, published yesterday, provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.   

In addition, Regional Reports on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040 in the three Regional Assembly areas have been published for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The reports set out the regional projects and programmes, which are being planned and delivered in the Southern Region, including in Cork city, as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040.  While the reports do not provide an exhaustive list of all public capital expenditure, they serve to highlight the diverse range of investments being made by the State under Project Ireland 2040 in the region. The 2023 Regional Reports are expected to be published in Q3.

The Project Ireland 2040 Regional Reports, capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has a statutory remit for the maintenance of the Maine Arterial Drainage Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945.  The area in question does not form part of this Arterial Drainage Scheme.  Furthermore, the OPW has no responsibility for Uisce Éireann infrastructure or approval of its plans for its infrastructure.

Local flooding, is in the first instance, a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009.  Applications for funding from local authorities are considered for flood relief and erosion protection measures costing up to €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects.  Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management.  Full details of this scheme are available on www.floodinfo.ie/  

The OPW welcome applications for funding under this scheme and is happy to engage with Local Authorities in this regard.

Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes to work practices.

The value of public pay deals to the Government and the taxpayer is ensuring that pay costs are managed in a sustainable and orderly way and in a climate of industrial peace. 

I do not envisage a role for broad based pay caps in the civil service at this time. The Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 applies to all civil servants and provides for increases of 10.25% over a two and a half year period. This is made up of general round increases totalling 9.25%, as well as a provision for a Local Bargaining mechanism equivalent to 1% of the basic pay cost.

Lower paid civil servants will see benefits in excess of this due to the targeted measures contained in the agreement. Over the lifetime of the agreement, the lowest paid civil servants will see cumulative benefits of up to 17.3%, inclusive of the local bargaining provision. This is a progressive approach, which ensures that those who are most vulnerable to inflation and cost of living issues will see the greatest increase in their pay.

In addition, on 27 June 2023 Government agreed to progress the establishment of the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee (SPRC), in line with the recommendations of the Report of the Independent Review Panel on senior public service recruitment and pay determination processes. This Committee will advise the Minister on remuneration arrangements for senior posts in the Public Service and CEOs of Commercial State Bodies (CSBs). In particular, again in line with the aforementioned Report recommendations, the first review to be carried out will be the CEOs of CSBs. A range of issues related to this review is currently being considered by the Committee.

As indicated in my reply to Question No. 67 of 21 February 2024, the Government committed €165 billion towards capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 published in 2021.  As set out in the Summer Economic Statement (SES) 2023, an additional €2.25 billion was made available to be allocated in the 2024 to 2026 period, to provide funding for critical infrastructure projects that are at an advanced stage as well as to the existing Climate Action Fund. Following the conclusion of more than 30 bilateral meetings which took place from January to March between myself and my Ministerial colleagues, the distribution of the additional €2.25 billion across Departments was agreed by Government on March 27. Recognising the capacity constraints in the economy, the additional funding will be targeted at projects that are at the appropriate stage of development for advancement in 2025 and 2026. This process included the consideration of which sectors have been able to utilise existing NDP allocations in recent years and who have a good track record of delivery. This funding will facilitate the progression of important projects and enable more rapid development of key Programme for Government commitments, such as the delivery of actions to fulfil our climate action plan commitments, the provision of more housing and enhanced education facilities.

The additional €2.25 billion builds on the existing funding already available under the NDP out to 2026 and it will mean more schools, housing, transport and healthcare projects can be progressed and delivered for our people.

The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the NDP, rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Expenditure is therefore allocated and monitored on a Departmental basis and not a geographical basis. Some notable public investment projects delivered under the NDP in Galway city and county include:

• The N59 Moycullen Bypass.

• N17/18 Gort to Tuam PPP scheme.

• University Hospital Galway, Radiation Oncology Unit.

• Merlin Park University Hospital Galway, replacement Orthopaedic Theatre Block.

• A new school building for 750 plus pupils with SEN provision at Gairmscoil Mhuire.

Further details of projects and programmes being delivered in Galway city and county can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.  

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

With the exception of the Local Government Fund and some small administrative lines of expenditure, the vast majority of local authority expenditure is not funded directly through the annual Budget process.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Department have responsibility at central Government level in relation to the local government system generally and for certain specific functional or service areas such as planning, housing and fire services. Responsibility in relation to policy, funding, legislation, and general oversight and accountability at national level in respect of a number of functions of local authorities rests with other relevant Ministers and Departments. Responsibility at central level is determined by the nature of the particular issue or activity involved, not by the fact that it involves a local authority role per se.

Chapter 3 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the 2022 Appropriation Accounts (www.audit.gov.ie/en/find-report/publications/2023/3-central-government-funding-of-local-authorities.pdf) provides a useful overview of local authority funding.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) that there are three unused properties in County Clare that are in the ownership of the Commissioners.

1. Unit 153, Shannon Business Park, Shannon

Unit 153, Shannon Business Park, was acquired by the CPW as a solution to meet the long-term requirements of the Department of Transport and a range of other State bodies in the area.  The Department of Transport, which operates the Vehicle Registration Unit (VRU) from a State-owned building in Shannon town centre, was earmarked as a key priority client to go into this newly acquired building.  

A master-planning exercise for the building was under way shortly after its purchase when the building was allocated to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) as part of the emergency response to the increased demand for accommodation for those seeking protection in Ireland.  The Office of Public Works (OPW) engaged fully with the relevant Government Departments managing the process over a number of months.  Earlier this year DCEDIY informed the OPW that it was releasing this property as it was no longer under consideration for that purpose.  The OPW has since recommenced engagement with client Departments to complete a masterplan for the property and will proceed to design stage by the end of 2024.

As a result of ongoing fabric issues within the existing VRU building in Shannon town centre, the OPW intends to relocate the Department of Transport staff from the Shannon VRU building to suitable space within Unit 153, Shannon Business Park over the coming months.

 2. Former Garda Station and Residence, Lissycasey

The former Garda station and residence at Lissycasey, was held by the CPW under a Lease Agreement dated March 1915 for a period of 99 years and was occupied by An Garda Síochána until 2015.

The CPW, as tenant in occupation, have invoked their statutory right to purchase the Freehold Interest in the property under the Landlord and Tenant Ground Rents Act 1967, as amended by the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 and the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 2019.

An application for the registration of the CPW Interest in the former Garda station and residence at Lissycasey has been lodged with Tailte Éireann and when the registration process is complete, the property will be assessed for disposal purposes and the arrangements involved are set out in the following Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) Circulars:

• Circular 11/2015: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets

• Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property

As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property.

The OPW’s approach to managing vacant, surplus properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed for either Government Departments or the wider public service. A number of strategic properties are retained in anticipation of potential State use/development in line with service demands arising from Government policy changes to public service provision.

Secondly, if no State use is identified, the OPW considers if open market disposal is an option, depending on prevailing market conditions.

Thirdly, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.  

3.  Former Garda Station, Broadford

The former Garda station at Broadford,  was recently sold at public auction and the sale of the property is scheduled to close within the coming weeks.

The CPW are not in a position to provide data on vacant properties or sites that may be held by other State bodies.

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects or sectoral policy strategies, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery.

NSO 1 – Compact Growth aims to secure the sustainable growth of more compact urban and rural settlements supported by jobs, housing, community services and amenities, rather than sprawl and unplanned, uneconomic growth.

The careful management of sustainable growth for compact cities, towns and villages will add value and create more attractive places in which people can live and work. This is a fundamental principle of the National Planning Framework which the NDP is seeking to deliver and will require streamlined and coordinated investment in urban, rural and regional infrastructure by public authorities to realise the potential of infill development areas within our cities, towns and villages. 

Details of projects and programmes being delivered under NSO 1 can be found in the latest capital investment tracker, which I published yesterday and provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million.  Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, and contains smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.  

The Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.

An Blascaod Mór is the largest island of the Blasket islands, an archipelago located off the coast of west Kerry. The island is a nationally significant heritage site due to the important literary and cultural output of its tiny community in the first half of the 20th century and the substantial collection of books – nearly 100 in all - that have been written about life on the Blasket Islands in the past century. The island is also a Special Area of Conservation and a Natura 2000 site.

 The OPW’s involvement with An Blascaod Mór goes back to 1988 with Ionad an Bhlascaoid, (the Blasket Centre) which was developed with assistance from the locally based voluntary group, Fondúíreacht an Bhlascaoid in 1992/3. It was officially opened in April 1994.

The State purchased the majority of the holdings on the island in 2009 and the OPW has restored a number of the houses on the island since then, including the home of the pre-eminent Blasket author, Tomás Ó Criomhthain. The Blasket Centre was the subject of a major €2.9 million upgrade that was opened in 2022 under a strategic partnership between Fáilte Ireland, OPW and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Centre employs over 20 people and is open on a seasonal basis from March to November.  A €1.2 million clifftop Wild Atlantic Way Viewing Platform was also constructed on the Blasket Centre site in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, which opened in 2020 and provides an accessible viewing point for visitors.

The conservation and protection of An Blascaod Mór continues to be of great importance to the OPW.  Visitor access to the island has now commenced for the 2024 season. The OPW is focussed on conserving and protecting the Island while providing facilities so visitors can appreciate and enjoy An Blascaod Mór. 

The OPW has reached an agreement with a local landowner to provide toilet facilities for visitors for the 2024 season. This facility, which also includes an indoor shelter for visitors, was in place for the entirety of the 2023 season and proved successful. Work on progressing permanent welfare facilities for visitors is also underway; a design team was appointed for this in early August 2023. Preliminary feasibility investigations and options appraisals have been completed, and the design team is currently seeking further specialist design input. 

The OPW continues to plan for improved landing facilities on the Island. This would allow boats to land passengers directly rather than requiring a transfer at sea to a RIB. Planning permission for a pier was previously granted in 2003. However, Kerry County Council have advised that is necessary to secure fresh planning permission. This is because there have been significant changes in the designated status of the island.  Environmental regulations have also changed in the period since the original permission was granted.

This will require new environmental and other reports to support such a planning application. A detailed solution for the design of these landing facilities is also required. A senior officials group comprised of relevant stakeholders has been convened to progress this objective, and they will continue to meet throughout 2024. The work of the consultants appointed to provide expert advice on ecological and planning issues related to the landing facilities is substantially underway. These studies have highlighted the importance of balancing the protection of the biodiversity of the island with the provision safer landing facilities. 

An Blascaod Mór has a rich biodiversity and wildlife presence. The OPW completed a biodiversity baseline study in early 2023. This study provides valuable data on the habitats and species present on the island, and also in the lands surrounding the Blasket Centre. This study will guide the OPW's work to ensure that biodiversity on the Island is protected.

Most visitors to An Blascaod Mór take great care not to cause any damage to the biodiversity or the heritage buildings on the Island. In the 2023 season, the OPW arranged for a leaflet to be distributed to visitors, explaining how to protect the wildlife and heritage on the island. This leaflet was been provided to the boat operators to share with visitors before they arrive on the island, to minimise any potential environmental impact of providing this extra information to ensure the ongoing conservation of the Island, the leaflet was printed on biodegradable paper. This leaflet will be continue to be distributed this year.

The OPW is committed to the longer term preservation of the Island. This is why a team, led by Molloy and Associates Conservation Architects, were appointed in 2023 to formulate a new Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the island. This plan will consider the elements of conservation, heritage protection, archaeology, transport planning, marine biology and environmental ecology in relation to the Island. Work by the interdisciplinary team is at an advanced stage, and a preliminary draft of the plan is with my officials for consideration. The plan will include a comprehensive inventory of the built and natural heritage of the Island. It will acknowledge the Island’s status as a Special Area of Conservation and a Natura 2000 site and its unique role in Irish cultural heritage. 

The Deputy may wish to note that the lands at Dún Chaoin's ferry point are not owned by the OPW, they are owned by Kerry County Council. The provision of facilities at this ferry point is a matter for the local authority. 

I welcome the recent announcement of the new Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara Ciarraí as a positive development in the conservation and management of the heritage and natural environment of West Kerry and the intrinsic heritage and cultural value of the Great Blasket. I look forward to making my first visit to the island as Minister now that access has resumed for the 2024 season.