asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider acquiring Government office accommodation in Dublin north of the river Liffey and thereby continue the start made with offices in Phibsboro' to achieve a better balance from a planning point of view in relation to such accommodation; and if there are at least two office complexes in north Dublin that could house the Department of Local Government and thereby relieve congestion in the Custom House for other Departments without prejudice to plans for direct building on sites under State control.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North Dublin Government Offices.
115.
Mr. Kenny
I am advised that in dealing with the accommodation requirements of Government offices in Dublin consideration is given and will continue to be given to all premises on offer including any on the north side of the Liffey. The question of accommodation in the Department of Local Government is under examination at present but at this stage it is not possible to indicate what the outcome may be.
Apart from the decision which has been taken that the Government will start to build some of their own property, is it not true that, with the exception of this one office in Phibsboro', all Government Offices are south of the Liffey. Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree with me that in the interests of planning it would be desirable to have some Government Departments north of the Liffey?
Mr. Kenny
It would be desirable. If suitable accommodation is on offer we can avail of it.
Is the accommodation on offer on the North Circular Road and the accommodation on offer in Finglas, with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Local Government in mind, not suitable?
Mr. Kenny
One has been brought to the notice of the Revenue Commissioners as a possible location—this is the one in Finglas; it is 22,000 square feet for a branch of the Customs and Excise.
Do the Department of Finance decide where Government offices are locted or the Revenue Commissioners?
Mr. Kenny
The Revenue Commissioners do not decide it, but it is only courtesy to ask the Minister concerned.
Is it not true that, in spite of the Castlebar and Athlone proposals to decentralise offices, the situation now is that we cannot get civil servants to move to Finglas or the North Circular Road?
Mr. Kenny
We can move civil servants wherever we like.