Annual Report 2003 - The Office of Public Works

SPECIAL PROJECTS PROGRAMME
Work continued on the €200m State Laboratory and
Agrilabs projects at Backweston Farm in 2003, with
contract completions due in April 2004 and January
2005 respectively. A contract for the new 11,000
sq.m. (approx.) Marine Institute HQ at Oranmore,
Co. Galway was placed later in 2003, and work has
commenced on site. Preparatory work has also begun
on the provision of the new farm facility at Longtown
Farm, Clane, Co. Kildare for the Department of
Agriculture & Food. The fit-out of c.950 sq. m. of
office accommodation for the Department of
Finance at 2-4 Merrion Row was completed during
the year.
Expressions of Interest were sought in November
2003 (for return in January 2004) for the provision
of a 2,000-seater National Conference Centre.
Planning applications for the proposed Heuston
Gate and Westgate developments at John’s Road/
Military Road, Dublin were submitted to Dublin City
Council as part of the OPW’s ‘Transforming State
Assets’ Programme The combined construction cost
for the developments is estimated at €400m. A planning
application for a proposed office development
of over 4,000 sq.m. for the Department of Finance at
7-9 Merrion Row/Military Billets was lodged in July.
A request for additional information was received
from Dublin City Council and is being finalised.
Design development for the proposed 11,000 sq.m.
(approx.) Food Safety Centre at Backweston continued
during the year, as did work on the submission
of a planning application for a generic type office
development of 3,500sq.m. (approx.) of accommodation
at 5-7 Merrion Square.
The Unit continued to act as Technical Advisers to
the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism and, in this
regard, completed in December 2003 an assessment
of the IRFU/FAI Lansdowne Road Feasibility Study
for a new Stadium. The Unit also acted as Technical
Advisers to Enterprise Ireland in respect of the provision
of their New HQ at Glasnevin. (This project is
now on hold due to the Government’s Decentralisation
announcement.) A publication illustrating the
International Architectural and Urban Design Competition
for Waterford North Quays was launched
during the year., together with the model of the
Waterford North Quays Venue Building.
The €63million National Aquatic & Leisure Centre
opened in March 2003. The Unit acted as Technical
Advisers to the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism
in respect of this project. The Centre successfully
hosted the aquatic events for the Special Olympics in
Summer 2003 and the European Short-Course
Championships in December 2003.
The Unit assisted the Central Fisheries Board in their
assessment of the issues involved in their possible
temporary/permanent relocation from their existing
unsatisfactory accommodation in Glasnevin. The
permanent relocation of the Board and that of Ordnance
Survey Ireland were both included in the Government’s
Decentralisation Programme announcement
in December 2003. The Department of Health
is still considering the matter of the relocation of the
Public Analyst’s Laboratory.
OPW ANNUAL REPORT 2003 32