Ability of OPW questioned after report

MEMBERS of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday questioned whether the Office of Public Works (OPW) was capable of managing the Government’s decentralisation programme.

After a PAC report accused the OPW of wasting millions of taxpayer’s money on flawed property deals, Fianna Fáil committee member John McGuinness broke ranks to openly challenge junior Finance Minister Tom Parlon.

According to the PAC report, details of which were first revealed in Monday’s Irish Examiner, more than €19m has been wasted and €23m overspent at the OPW.