Office of Public Works facts for kids

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is a special part of the Irish government. It helps look after many important buildings and places in Ireland. These buildings are owned by the government. The OPW is part of the Department of Finance.

What the OPW Does

The OPW has many jobs! They mainly take care of Ireland's historical buildings and sites. This means they help keep old castles, parks, and other important places safe and looking good.

They also help the government in other ways. For example, they assist during elections. They also help buy supplies for government offices. The OPW even prints important government documents. They are in charge of the Government Supplies Agency. They print the Irish Statute Book, which contains all Irish laws. They also print the Iris Oifigiúil magazine.

A Look at OPW History

The Office of Public Works started a long time ago. It was created on 15 October 1831. Back then, it was called the Board of Works. It brought together a few older offices. These included the Office of the Surveyor-General for Ireland, the Barracks Board, and the Navigation Board.

For many years, the OPW also looked after many heritage sites. These are places that are important to Ireland's history and culture. But in 1996, a new group took over this job. This new group was called Dúchas - The Heritage Service.

How the OPW is Organised

The Minister for Finance is the main person in charge of the OPW. The people who work for the OPW are called civil servants. They work for the government to help run the country.

Images for kids

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  The flag of the Office of Public Works.