Mechanical & Electrical Engineering (M&E) Section

Image of graduate engineers. Video of data centre

The Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Engineering Section is primarily responsible for the provision of in-house consultancy services in the areas of mechanical, electrical and energy related engineering in buildings.

The section’s clients comprise both internal business units in the OPW and external organisations. The section works closely with a number of business areas within the OPW (Major Projects, Intermediate Projects, Property Maintenance and Property Management) and with a range of individual Government Departments and Agencies.

Where the engineering consultancy service for capital works projects is outsourced to external consultants, the section provides a briefing and monitoring service.

The M&E section is also responsible for the identification and management of planned maintenance programmes of work in the OPW Portfolio of building and leads and manages the OPW’s central Maintenance Helpdesk. This service is available to our clients 24-hrs a Day, 7 Days per week.

The Helpdesk has in place over 6,500 Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) contracts across these 2,000 properties. These contracts enable the Helpdesk to ensure that specialist technical providers deal with all requests and callouts in an efficient and professional manner. They also provide a structure for scheduled statutory and routine maintenance visits.

A key strength of the service provision is the team of skilled and experienced Technical Inspectors (TIs). The TIs are knowledgeable in all aspects of M&E maintenance and handle any issues as they arise. They work hand in hand with a dedicated team of administrators in the call-centre, contracts and accounts units.

In addition to the above, the section carries out programmes of planned maintenance works. Some of the key projects carried out under these programmes in 2024 were:

Heating System Upgrade Programme in:

• Department of Defence Newbridge
• Dunchaoin Blasket Island Visitor Centre
• Dublin Castle Stamping Building
• Glencree Centre for Reconciliation
• Newbridge GOV offices
• Birchgrove House
• Timberlay Hse Mount Street Lower 85 – 93

Air Conditioning System Upgrades:

• Phoenix House
• Revenue Disaster Recovery Site in Dublin Castle
• Main Lecture Theatres Garda Colleague, Templemore

Skellig Island CCTV Installation

The design and installation of CCTV was undertaken at the landing stage on Skellig Michael to deter illegal landings on the island and to improve Health & Safety for OPW personnel. This was a challenging project due to the lack of power and data coverage on the remote UNESCO world heritage site.