955. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Government intends to develop a co-ordinated national estate strategy to maximise economic benefit, minimise waste and ensure that surplus or potentially surplus State and local government assets are identified, especially in the context of the European Union energy performance of buildings directives, EPBD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62662/26]

956. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will create a co-ordinated strategy for managing the State’s inter-relationship with the office market, given it is the largest user of offices in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62663/26]

957. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he has explored, or will explore, a co-ordinated policy for the utilisation of assets within entities who maintain their own property departments and asset portfolios; and if he will make a statement on the matter [62664/26]

958. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he has explored, or will explore, a comprehensive occupancy strategy to be put in place for the co-ordinated occupancy of space by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62665/26]

959. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the details of records regarding past evaluation of State assets that fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62666/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 955, 956, 957, 958 and 959 together.

The Office of Public Works Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2028 clearly articulates the strategic vision for the Estate in the care of the OPW. The strategic goal for Estate Management seeks to maximise the use, efficiency and value of the OPW accommodation portfolio, while meeting the operational needs of clients and customers. Embedded within this strategic goal are five core objectives which seek: to modernise the portfolio; to optimise the portfolio; to ensure pro-active asset management of the portfolio; to advance our climate action obligations; and to strengthen our capability. By ensuring future asset management activities are aligned to these objectives will allow for a coordinated but flexible planning approach to providing suitable and sustainable property solutions across Government that best meet the long-term needs of client Departments while complying with broader government policy.

Where a property is deemed to be surplus to requirements, the OPW, like other State bodies, are obliged to follow central Government policies on the disposal of surplus properties. 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.

Under Circular 11/2015: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets, for State bodies who manage their own property portfolios, like the HSE, where the proposal for an intra State transfer is being progressed by both parties, the Owning Stakeholder of the relevant State property shall request a determination of Market Value from Tailte Éireann. The Market Value valuation as determined by Tailte Éireann is binding on both parties. The OPW has in the past five years transferred over 50 properties to Local Authorities for housing and alternative State use. In addition, there are a number of properties that are in the process of being transferred to Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency.

The OPW is a service provider for government including responding to the demands of government in providing office accommodation. The roles and responsibilities of OPW and its clients are set out under Circular 01/2025: Management and Maintenance of Accommodation in Government Departments, Offices, Certain State Agencies and Cultural Institutions. This circular states that the day-to-day management and efficient use of space allocation is a matter for each of OPW clients.

In considering the occupancy and utilisation of office accommodation within the OPW portfolio, I note that between 2015 and 2025, the number of full time equivalent (FTE) civil servants employed in Ireland increased by 50%. The total area of office accommodation managed, as reported by the OPW has marginally decreased in the same period. The office space per civil servant has decreased significantly from a level of 24.2 square meters per person in 2015 to 15.8 square meters per person in 2025.

The OPW has been actively engaged with its clients since the widespread emergence of blended working to encourage the efficient use of space across its office portfolio. This was highlighted as part of the 2025 report published by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. As prescribed under Circular 01/2025, the OPW, in collaboration with its clients, are in the process of capturing more granular detail on the day to day utilisation of the office portfolio. A pilot study was initiated in 2025, and this process is being reviewed and broadened out to a wider sample of buildings which will occur in Q4 2026. The OPW will use this data to further engage with Government Departments and Agencies highlighting where there may be opportunities to optimise their accommodation.

In reviewing the emerging accommodation requirements of Government, the OPW reviews all options that are available to it. The OPW first looks to see if the accommodation demands can be met from within its existing portfolio before exploring alternative avenues. Recent examples of where an emerging accommodation need has been met from within the existing office portfolio without the need to acquire new accommodation, includes the provision of space for the Department of Justice in Dublin 2 for administrative purposes associated with people seeking International Protection. Further examples of this include the provision of space for the Department of Enterprise and Trade in an existing state owned building in Dublin 4. Utilising existing accommodation from within the portfolio to accommodate these two requests negated the need to procuring approximately 10,000 square meters of new accommodation in high cost locations.

When accommodation cannot be met from within existing accommodation, the OPW will appraise all remaining options which may include building, buying or leasing accommodation. There is no single solution and it is important to have a flexible portfolio to allow growth and contraction over a period of time.

Lastly, as part of the strategic management of the portfolio, the OPW maintains regular engagement with the commercial office marketplace and utilises the professional property advisory team within the OPW to ensure commercial deals being achieved are in line with market norms.