OPW to spend €35m buying sites

Decentralisation: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is planning to spend around €35 million next year on securing sites and buildings to facilitate the Government's decentralisation programme.

The OPW is also to receive a 56 per cent increase in funding for new works, alterations and additions, some of which will allow for construction work to start on offices for civil and public service staff moving from Dublin.

Many of these new offices will be built on sites purchased last year under the decentralisation initiative.

Over €276 million has been set aside in the estimates for new works, alterations and additions.

The budget for the purchase of new sites and buildings is to decrease by 62 per cent in 2007, signalling that a significant number of sites for decentralised offices for civil and public servants have already been secured.