I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The OPW has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate - comprising approximately 2,500 properties - including office buildings, Garda properties, heritage properties, visitor centres and national monuments. The OPW also has responsibility for the funding and delivery of flood relief projects across the country and works with local authorities on the delivery of these schemes. The OPW endeavours to ensure best value for money outcomes on all projects under its management. All contracts are subject to approval, monitoring and audit to ensure that value for money is being achieved throughout the procurement and delivery process. The OPW follows public procurement best practice in respect of the large spend under its remit. This includes the use of the Office of Government Procurement framework agreements, as well as establishing its own frameworks to achieve the most economic outcomes for the delivery of cost savings. These are advertised in eTenders.ie, following the public spending code, infrastructure guidelines to ensure the necessary project appraisals are conducted. In order to address the concerns raised on the delivery of the covered bicycle shelter project in Leinster House, the OPW is finalising guidance for its staff on the approval and oversight of capital projects where the total expected expenditure is anticipated to be less than €500,000. This guidance covers the decision-making processes and the documentation required to inform supporting these decisions. The purpose of this guidance is to support efficient project delivery, within budget, in alignment with OPW’s strategic objectives and in support of programme for Government priorities. This guidance will further enhance effective and timely management, adhering to governance and compliance standards to support the oversight of these projects. The guidance will be regularly reviewed to ensure its relevance and alignment with OPW’s evolving needs. I am advised that the guidance will be finalised and in place within the next four to five weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.54
When the Deputy states I have introduced guidance, I am quite happy with that given that I am only two weeks in the job. I am quite happy to state that in four to five weeks we will be moving and changing how we do things. I am happy to say we get value for money. I went into government. I could have sat on the Opposition benches. I came into government to make changes. I know what it is to make a euro. I know what it is to spend a euro. I also know accountability is very much to the forefront of Government and for the Taoiseach. Accountability and value for money were very much across all of our negotiations during the programme for Government. It was the same for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, last week. I believe in that and I believe in the OPW. I believe in the work it does. I believe in the vast majority of projects that come in on budget and on time. I am happy to say that we will see changes going forward due to the guidance I will put in place during the next four to five weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.19
Sorry?
Sentiment score: -0.08
As stated at the outset, I meant quite clearly that the OPW does very good work. I want to continue with that work and I want to promote the brand and what I believe the OPW stands for. When we talk about some of the articles in the newspaper last week about the overrunning projects, when we go to some of these sites - heritage sites or old buildings-----
Sentiment score: 0.41
----- and take off the roof - it could be a slate, glass or copper roof - the naked eye cannot see what is underneath when it comes to pricing it up. There can be other problems and issues. If I, or my predecessor, had turned around and stopped that project because it was going into an overspend, I would have Deputies in this House asking why there was a delay on this project and what was keeping it from being done. We did what we did in the best interest of getting that project up and running and we will continue to work. I put a huge emphasis on delivering value for money going forward in the guidance I have put in place.
Sentiment score: 0.10
The OPW ensures the quality of the concrete blockwork used in all its building projects complies with the European standard for masonry blockwork. This requires that the manufacturer shall supply a certificate with each delivery of concrete blocks stating the date of manufacture and that the blocks comply with all the requirements of the standard. It includes a declaration of performance and a European certificate marking and is in accordance with the technical guidance documents. Where a building shows cracks that may be consistent with the presence of a deleterious material, an inspection is carried out by a suitably qualified engineer. Appropriate sampling and testing may be carried out as required on a case by case basis. There are no buildings under the responsibility of the OPW in Donegal that have been identified to have this issue, to the best of my knowledge.
Sentiment score: 0.01
The Deputy asked me about OPW buildings, and I identified not to my knowledge. If the Deputy has knowledge of buildings that are showing signs, he should let me know and we will follow them up. At present, according to what I have in front of me, we do not. However, I assure him that if he comes to me with that, I will take it up.
Sentiment score: 0.09
If a building shows signs, then an engineer is assigned and a safety measure is put in place, but as I said at the outset, to the best of my knowledge we have no buildings in Donegal, and I have nothing in front of me to tell me we have. There is no point in me saying what we are or are not going to do if we do not have buildings with the affected blocks. I ask the Deputy to come back to me.
Sentiment score: 0.05