When the debate was adjourned on the 29th May last I had been replying to various matters that had been raised in respect of Leinster House accommodation—for instance, the provision of a stand-by generator and air conditioning as it affected us in this building. Many Deputies made reference to the type of heating used in Government buildings. Deputies Callanan, MacSharry, Geoghegan and Coogan were critical of the type of fuel used and were anxious that native fuel should be used. In this connection I would remind the Deputies that both gas and electricity have been classified as native fuels. Obviously this is because both sources are generated here and, consequently, they have been used extensively down through the years for the heating of State buildings. I might add in passing that the classification was not determined by the Office of Public Works.
It has long been the policy of the Commissioners to use turf whenever possible for heating those buildings which are their responsibility and it is only for sound technical reasons that they depart from this policy. For example, in the case of telephone exchanges it is vital to avoid in so far as possible the creation of a dust laden atmosphere. This is because of the sensitivity of the telephonic instruments.
Deputy MacSharry was critical of the use of gas, electricity or oil in some 96 Government offices throughout the country. This point has been covered by my reminding the Deputy that these fuels have been classified as native.
Deputy MacSharry, too, was under the impression that turf is burned in only one Government building in Kildare Street. The building referred to is heated from the central heating station in Kildare Place, which heats also Leinster House, Government Buildings, the College of Science, the Departments of Industry and Commerce and Transport and Power, the National Gallery, the National Library, the National Museum and the National College of Art. The fuel used is turf brickeens and this station is the largest turf burning system in the country. It uses about 5,000 tons of fuel per year.
Regarding accommodation for Government staff, Deputy Fitzpatrick mentioned in particular the new building in Kildare Street. The fitting of this building, in which will be centralised the headquarters staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is now almost complete and the occupation of the building, which is taking place in stages, should be completed before the end of April next. The building, which was constructed by a private concern, is being acquired by the State by way of a sophisticated form of hire purchase. Initially the State paid a capital contribution of £500,000 towards the cost of the project. In addition an annual rent is being paid, but in accordance with long-standing practice details of the rent are not disclosed. In accordance with normal practice the cost of fittings and furnishings is being borne by the tenant—in this case, the State— and the total cost of this operation will be in the region of £1 million. In addition to accommodating the staff of about 1,000 of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the building will accommodate also about 250 personnel from other Departments.
Deputy Enright suggested that in many cases civil servants are expected to work in substandard accommodation where there is substandard furniture. While I accept that there are many offices in Dublin and throughout the provinces where conditions could be better, this is a situation to which, down through the years, adequate attention was not paid. However steps are now being taken to set up within the Office of Public Works a unit whose task will be to make improvements all round. It is a task that is formidable: it will take a good deal of time, effort and money if we are to bring the accommodation concerned to a satisfactory standard.
Deputy Tunney was critical of the locations in Dublin of Government offices and he commented on the imbalance as between north and south of the Liffey. If such an imbalance existed up to now, we are presently in the process of having it rectified. Deputy Tunney will be glad to hear that. The State has rented a very large building in Marlborough Street. A fair amount of space has been rented, too, in the Phibsborough tower building and plans are in hand for a new building for a meteorological office on the site of the former Marlborough House, Glasnevin. Consideration is being given also to a proposal for the erection of another large office block to house about 700 members of staff on the north side of the city.
Deputy MacSharry inquired about the number of staff from the Departments of Lands and Education who would be transferred to Castlebar and Athlone and asked when the transfer would take place. Selected sections of the staffs of both Departments are to be transferred to Athlone and Castlebar. The building in Castlebar was designed to accommodate between 200 and 300 people while the building in Athlone will accommodate between 100 and 150 personnel. Present indications are that movement to Castlebar will commence in the latter half of 1975 and to Athlone in early 1976. At this stage it is not possible to be more definite.
Deputies White and MacSharry raised the question of the decentralisation of Government staff. This question is being considered as a matter of Government policy.
In my opening speech I stated that work is proceeding on the erection of new office buildings for the Departments of Lands and Education at Castlebar and Athlone, respectively, and that later there may be buildings erected in other places. Deputy McLaughlin suggested the centralisation of Government offices in one building in provincial towns. I accept the desirability of that idea and this has been achieved already in a small number of centres such as Carlow, Drogheda and Letterkenny. The process will be continued but, of necessity, it will take a long time to centralise all Government staffs in one building in each town. It will happen in Castlebar and, perhaps, Athlone.
Deputy MacSharry inquired also about the position of the stand-by generator at Leinster House. It has been decided to provide a generator for emergency use at Leinster House and Government Buildings. Planning of a suitable scheme is under way.
Deputy Lemass referred to houses occupied by the Department of Lands in Upper Merrion Street. These buildings have been occupied by the Department for a long time. They are like a labyrinth, with connection from one building to another. These buildings have been joined together, and one could go astray if one were not guided from one office to another. The development of the properties, with a view to providing proper accommodation, is under consideration.
Deputy MacSharry wanted to know on what the sum of £1,200,000 for telephone capital would be spent? This money will be spent on more than 75 works in all, comprising new telephone exchanges, extensions to existing exchanges, engineering headquarters and engineering depots. I have a huge list here, but if the Deputy wishes to get a copy of the list it will save me reading it out.
