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The Office of Public Works (OPW) (Irish: Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí) (legally the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, though the full title is rarely used) is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland. Its chief responsibility is the ownership, upkeep, and maintenance of Irish Government and historic buildings in the Republic of Ireland.
Role
The agency also provides election, procurement and printing services for government. The office also historically had responsibility for drainage schemes and other large civil and public engineering projects. The office is in charge of the Government Supplies Agency which issues the Irish Statute Book and in particular the Iris Oifigiúil magazine.
History
The office was created on October 15, 1831, initially it was known as the Board of Works. It was formed out of the merger of the Office of the Surveyor-General for Ireland, the Barracks Board, and Navagations Board. The OPW had responsibility for the majority of heritage sites in Ireland prior to 1996. In 1996 the management of most of these sites was transferred to a separate agency, Duchas - The Heritage Service in 1996, under the terms of the Heritage Act 1995. Duchas adopted a stylised version of the traditional OPW logo, with the OPW changing its logo to match its new focus on its buildings and maintenance functions. In 2003 this body, which had been an Executive Agency of the Department of Arts, Sport, and Tourism, was wound up and most of its functions transferred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government) [1]. They are now operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a section within the Department [2]. Functions not transferred to NPWS reverted to being OPW functions, which mainly relate to built heritage sites.
Organisation
The Minister for Finance has overall responsibility for the organisation. The organisation is unique in the Irish public sector, in that it is the only body other than a Department of State with a specific minister with responsibility for it, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (currently Noel Ahern TD). The Commissioners comprise a Chairman and two other Commissioners. The staff of the organisation comprise part of the Civil Service of the State.
See also
External links
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