asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the Office of Public Works estimate for rents and rates for each of the past four years; and if he will state his policy in relation to the growth of Government renting of office accommodation in Dublin in recent years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rented Government Offices.
49.
The expenditure incurred from the Public Works and Building Vote in respect of rents, rates etc., in the four financial years ending on the 31st March, 1968, was as follows:—
|
£ |
|
|
Year ending 31st March, 1965 |
233,122 |
|
,, ,, ,, ,, 1966 |
333,842 |
|
,, ,, ,, ,, 1967 |
425,425 |
|
,, ,, ,, ,, 1968 |
562,080 |
The increase in the expenditure is due in the main to the necessity to lease office accommodation in Dublin for the staffs of various Government Departments.
There can be no doubt that because of the establishment of new services and the extension of others coupled with the fact that some old buildings which had been in use as offices did not conform to statutory standards all of the additional space which has been acquired is essential.
As I stated when introducing the Estimate for Public Works and Buildings for 1966-67 the alternative to the renting of space in new buildings would be that the State would design and erect its own buildings. While that would undoubtedly be the ideal solution of our accommodation problem the amount of capital required to carry through such a programme would be enormous. In recent and present circumstances, it could be made available only at the expense of vital services. Clearly, then, the only practical solution to the problem though not, as I have indicated, the ideal one, lies in the renting of space in modern office blocks constructed by private enterprise.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say what floor space is involved?
I have not got that information.
Or who the landlords are?
No.
It is 562,080 square feet approximately. They are paying £1 per square foot.