Annual Report 2003 - The Office of Public Works

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL
Output in financial terms is summarised below:
WORK AREA TOTAL VALUE €M
Service Contracts
3.5
up-to-date energy reports. The bureau will be
charged with developing Energy Performance Indicators
for each building, identifying energy wastage
and preparing weekly, monthly and annual energy
reports with the all-important involvement of local
building managers.
Minor Works/
Maintenance
Programmed
maintenance work
New Works
Advice and Monitoring
MAINTENANCE
8
1.6
22
90
NEW WORK
New work designed in-house in 2003 included projects
in Wexford Opera House, the Food Safety Centre
at Backweston, the Environmental Protection
Agency in Kilkenny, the Military History Museum at
Collins Barracks, several Garda stations and National
Educational Psychology Service buildings, and
numerous fit-outs throughout the country.
A contract for the management by a private sector
company of the maintenance portfolio of work came
into effect at the beginning of the year 2003 and the
arrangement is working particularly well. A feature
of the service is the provision of a dedicated help
desk service to customers. A new software system
was also installed in the course of the year, to assist
with invoice payments and billing to customers.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
In a joint venture with Sustainability Energy Ireland
(formerly the Irish Energy Centre), the Mechanical &
Electrical Section is establishing an energy monitoring
bureau charged with monitoring and targeting
energy consumption in all large State buildings. The
existing building management systems which have
been installed in most of these buildings over the
past number of years are in the process of being
upgraded to include the latest in energy data collection
technology. The new system will enhance data
collection and utilise the internet to communicate
with a web server which hosts the central energy
database. The web server can be interrogated remotely
by local Accommodation Officers in order to view
A major project commenced in Kildare House,
involving the total refurbishment of a 1970s office
block with energy conservation to the fore in the
removal of the existing air conditioning system.
ADVICE AND MONITORING
The Business Unit continued to liaise with external
consultants in the provision of design services in
commissioned works and to provide advice on a
wide range of issues to both internal and external
customers.
FLOOD RELIEF PROGRAMME
Engineering Services continued to provide technical
support to the Project Management Services Business
Unit in relation to the Flood Relief Programme in the
form of policy advice, pre-feasibility studies, and
works monitoring. In addition, staff from the direct
labour force carried out works to stretches of the river
Tolka in Counties Dublin and Meath and the river
Morrell in County Kildare.
OPW ANNUAL REPORT 2003 46