The OPW has gone through something of a transformation over the past few years and now actively promotes itself in terms more akin to private sector enterprise. It has produced a strategy document complete with a "mission statement" in which it maps out its future as a service provider.
"Our main drive is to be more commercially minded in how we do business while continuing to operate in accordance with public sector requirements," it says in its mission statement. It describes itself as a "facilitator, delivering what is required to enable our customers to get on with delivering their core objectives".
In keeping with its attempts to foster a commercial edge, it has broken up its main services into six "business units", These include architectural services, project management, property management, property maintenance, engineering services and procurement. It is also telling that these units are seeking accreditation to the quality standard ISO 9002, as any commercial company might do.
The OPW views itself more as a consultant and provider of services than a construction company.
The architectural services are self explanatory and include design and construction management, planning, health and safety and building conservation.
Its project management services represent a new approach, however, and grow out of the OPW's expertise in overseeing large construction and development projects, according to OPW Commissioner, Sean Benton. "I think what very few people understand is that when we build a prison in the midlands, we contract builders. We don't have an army of workers to do this any more."
Under this heading, the OPW acts as a consultant that oversees a project from beginning to end. "We see other departments as clients. We see that as part of our strategic focus," he says. These services tend to apply for any project worth £250,000 or more.
The property management unit's work involves keeping tabs on the largest property portfolio in the State, consisting of about 11 million square feet of accommodation. This includes about 4,000 individual properties. About half are State owned and the remainder attract annual rents of about £31 million.
Property maintenance involves refurbishment, fitting-out projects and routine maintenance work on Government buildings. Much of the work in Dublin, other than routine maintenance, is done by contractors. Outside Dublin, the regional OPW offices oversee this work. Engineering is part of the old, familiar OPW remit related to flood relief and arterial drainage. Its hydrometric database, dating back to the 1940s, and the skills which go with it, are offered to clients, however, including private sector engineering consultants.
Procurement relates to the organising of consumable supplies and is managed by the Government Supplies Agency. This includes anything from pens and stationery to advertising, printing, uniforms, office furniture, floor coverings and motor vehicles. The total annual procurement spend is about £45 million, according to the OPW.
Interestingly, the OPW has retained control over its bank of craftsmen in areas such as specialist plastering, painting and furniture repair and restoration. The furniture workshop at Rialto, Dublin, is under the procurement unit and handles antique and prestige furniture pieces. The quality work carried out by OPW stone masons, plasterers and painters can be seen on any reconstruction project you care to mention, from Dublin Castle to Collins Barracks to phase two of the Kilkenny Castle refit, which gets under way shortly.
"Not alone have we maintained these skills that would have died out but we are growing them," says the Minister of State with special responsibility for the OPW, Martin Cullen.
