asked the Minister for Finance (a) the total area of office accommodation rented by the Government in the city of Dublin (b) the area rented for the first time in each of the years from 1960-72 inclusive, including the estimated area of accommodation to be rented between now and the end of 1972 (c) the estimated requirements of the Government for further rented accommodation in the next three years and (d) the number of staff accommodated or to be accommodated under (b) and (c) above.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Office Rentals.
22.
The information requested at (a) (b) and (d) is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
With regard to (c) it is not possible at this time to give the estimated requirements of the Government for further rented accommodation in the next three years.
Following is the statement:
(a) Total area of office accommodation rented by the Government in the City of Dublin at present:
848,000 square feet, approximately.
(b) Areas rented for the first time in each of the years 1960 to 1972 (including areas to be rented before the end of 1972).
|
Year |
Area |
|
1960 |
Nil |
|
1961 |
1,855 |
|
1962 |
20,302 |
|
1963 |
Nil |
|
1964 |
Nil |
|
1965 |
194,268 |
|
1966 |
7,277 |
|
1967 |
143,629 |
|
1968 |
3,000 |
|
1969 |
26,950 |
|
1970 |
70,081 |
|
1971 |
149,059 |
|
1972 |
315,804 |
(d) The number of staff accommodated or to be accommodated in the areas under (b) : 7,500 approximately.
May I take it from the reply that the existing space available is sufficient for the immediate and foreseeable needs of the Government?
No; we need more accommodation.
In that case why is it not possible to say the area that will be needed? If more accommodation is needed why cannot the Parliamentary Secretary give the estimated space required?
The point is that some Government policies have not yet been formulated and until they have been formulated we cannot make an accurate estimate. We know that, for instance, the pay-related social welfare policy that was discussed yesterday will involve more staff in that Department and that Department is short of accommodation. As new Government policies come into effect new requirements arise.