Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jan 1976

Vol. 287 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Accommodation.

11.

Mr. Lemass

asked the Minister for Finance the present position regarding the recommendation of the Office of Public Works in 1972 that office accommodation should be provided by State building rather than by renting; the location and annual rental of office blocks occupied by civil servants; the number of civil servants accommodated in each location; and why the new buildings in the Lower Castle Yard and in Kildare Place, Dublin have been found inadequate to meet their original purposes.

12.

Mr. Lemass

asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants in rented office accommodation; the cost of all rented accommodation; and whether the Government will adopt a progressive policy towards the provision of more Government owned accommodation.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr. Begley)

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

The number of civil servants in rented accommodation on 15th January, 1976 was 12,397. The total amount of commercial rent payable in respect of all rented office accommodation for Government Departments is approximately £2,830,000 per annum at present.

The information on the location of offices occupied by civil servants and the number of civil servants in each location is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.

It is not the practice to disclose the amount of commercial rent payable in respect of individual offices and it would not be in the public interest to do so.

It is accepted that it is more economical for the State to build its own offices than to rent them, and as the first stage of a long term programme towards that end work has already started on the adaptation, for office purposes, of the former St. Vincent's Nursing Home, while work is expected to start in the near future on the construction of office blocks at Shelbourne Road and Earlsfort Terrace, a new headquarters for the Meteorological Service at Glasnevin, the first stage of a new Garda headquarters at the former training depot in the Phoenix Park and an office block at Inchicore Road, Inchicore.

The new stamping branch building in the Lower Yard of Dublin Castle is not inadequate for its purposes.

The building in Kildare Place (Agriculture House) was intended to house the headquarters staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and certain other civil service staffs. Because of the expansion of its staffs it has become necessary to allocate the entire building to the Department and to seek alternative accommodation for the other staffs at present housed these.

Following is the statement:

Government Departments

DUBLIN CITY AND COUNTY

Premises	Department/Office	Number of Civil Servants
Abbey Street, 61 Middle	Revenue Commissioners	8
A.C.C. House, Upper Hatch Street	Land Commission	46
Agriculture House, Kildare Street	Agriculture and Fisheries, Finance, Industry and Commerce	1,154
Apollo House, Tara Street	Education	167
Ardree Road, Rathmines, 1	Central Statistics Office	120
Baggot Street, Lower, 120/121	Valuation Office	14
Baggot Street, Lower, 128	Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests	12
Beresford Place, 1	Social Welfare	21
Braemor Road, Churchtown, 5	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	8
Bishop Street (former Jacob's Offices)	Geological Survey Office, Revenue Commissioners, Land Registry Office, Public Service	103
Castle House, South Great George's Street	Revenue Commissioners	302
Cathal Brugha Street, 3	Agriculture and Fisheries	44
Clanwilliam Court, Mount Street Lower, (Block I)	Revenue Commissioners	40
Clanwilliam Court, Mount Street Lower, (Block III)	Office of Public Works	(Being adapted for use)
Convent Place, Hatch Street Lower	Justice	60
Cumberland House, Cumberland Street, North.	Revenue Commissioners, Social Welfare (Employment Exchange)	52
Dame Street, 19-22	Revenue Commissioners	(Being adapted for use)
Davitt House, Mespil Road	Labour; Labour Court	369
Dawson Street, 39	Foreign Affairs (Passport Office), Justice	55
d'Olier House, d'Olier Street	Labour (Manpower Service), Social Welfare	409
Earlsfort House, Hatch Street Upper	Revenue Commissioners	637
Ely Place, 5/6	Valuation Office	151
Ely Place, 7/8	Valuation Office	2
Frederick Street, South, 3/4	Finance	23
Georges Street, 91A Lower, Dún Laoghaire	Social Welfare	3
Georges Street, 93 Lower, Dún Laoghaire	Social Welfare	19
Grand Canal Street, 1 Lower	Civil Service Commission, Roinn na Gaeltachta	207
Grattan House	Revenue Commissioners	98
Harcourt Street, 26	Finance	9
Hawkins House	Education, Revenue Commissioners, Health, Statute Law Reform, Civil Service Commission	513
Hume House, Ballsbridge	Revenue Commissioner, Agriculture (Veterinary College), Examiner of Restrictive Practices	169
Hume Street, 14	Geological Survey Office	21
Inchicore Workshops	Office of Public Works	24
James Street (Brewery)	Revenue Commissioners	5
John's Lane (Distillery)	Revenue Commissioners	5
Kildare Building, Setanta Centre, Kildare Street	Oireachtas	27
Lansdowne House	Revenue Commissioners, Public Service, Central Statistics Office	95
Lansdowne Road, 18	Revenue Commissioners	22
Liberty Hall	Education, Health, Revenue Commissioners	104
Lucan Town Hall	Social Welfare	1
Lyon House, O'Connell Street	Revenue Commissioners	152
Merrion Street, 33, Upper	Land Commission	18
Merrion Square, 15	Gaeleagras na Seirbhíse Poiblí	8
Molesworth Street, 15	Oireachtas	8
Molesworth Street, 34	Office of Public Works	18
Mount Street, 33-41 Lower (Arkle House)	Local Government, Revenue Commissioners, Prize Bonds Office	91
Mount Street, 50 Upper	Restrictive Practices Commission	14
Nassau Street, 34/35	Revenue Commissioners	100
North Wall, 3	Agriculture and Fisheries (Portal Inspection Office)	12
O'Connell Bridge House	Local Government, Labour (Manpower Service), Social Welfare, Transport and Power	511
O'Connell Street, 55/56 Upper	Transport and Power	36
Oisin House, Pearse Street	Social Welfare, Prices Commission, National Economic and Social Council	217
Ormond Quay, 3 Lower	Agriculture and Fisheries	(Storage)
Osmond House, Ship Street	Garda, Revenue Commissioners	39
Pearse House, Pearse Street	Revenue Commissioners	211
Phibsboro Centre	Garda Representative Body, Social Welfare, Public Service	122
Sackville Place	Social Welfare, Transport and Power	(Being adapted for use)
St. Martin's House, Waterloo Road	National Science Council, Agricultural Wages Board, Revenue Commissioners, Lands (Forestry)	199
St. Michan's Food Markets	Agriculture (Inspectors' Hut)	3
St. Stephen's Green, 14	Revenue Commissioners, Health (Medical Review Body), Office of Public Works	10
St. Stephen's Green, 24	National Science Council	8
St. Stephen's Green, 44/45	Director of Public Prosecutions	9
St. Stephen's Green, 49	Office of Public Works	(Being adapted for use)
St. Stephen's Green, 52	Foreign Affairs, Office of Public Works	270
St. Stephen's Green, 72/76	Foreign Affairs, Justice, Finance, Public Service, Comptroller and Auditor General	463
St. Stephen's Green House	Central Statistics Office	187
Store Street, 21	Social Welfare	26
Townsend Street, 157-164	Social Welfare	185
Victoria Street, Employment Exchange	Social Welfare	32
	TOTAL	8,098

Department of Posts and Telegraphs

PROVINCIAL AREAS

Centre	Location of Premises	Number of Staff accommodated in premises
Athlone	Crescent Buildings	2
	Johnston Parochial Hall	3
Ballina	Post Office	34
	Ruane Premises, Bury Street	15
Ballinrobe	Post Office	8
Bantry	2 High Street	15
Carrickmacross	Post Office	13
Carrick-on-Suir	Post Office	34
Cork	Irish Life House	52
	44 Marlboro Street	25
	4, 5, 6 Winthrop Street	50
	12 South Mall	Not yet occupied.
Cobh	Post Office	16
Dundalk	Demesne Buildings	12
Drogheda	Boyne Centre	38
Donegal	Post Office	21
Ennis	Casey's Premises, Bank Place	4
Galway	Hession Building, 6 Francis Street	3
	Eglinton Street	25
	Hynes Building, St. Augustine Street	20
Kilmallock	Post Office	22
Lifford	Post Office	29
Letterkenny	Main Street	13
Limerick	Bank House, O'Connell Street	56
	Capital Buildings, Catherine Street	12
	St. Munchin's House, Henry Street	40
	31 Roches Street	27
Longford	Post Office	22
Mallow	Bank Place (two premises)	20
Mullingar	Earl Street	6
	Dominick Street (adjoining P.O.)	15
Naas	12 Main Street	12
	A.C.C. Premises, Main Street	15
Sligo	Five Star Premises, O'Connell Street	20
	Grattan Street (Blackwoods)	26
	44 O'Connell Street (O'Connor Bros.)	10
Shannon	Shop Unit, Town Centre Post Office	4
Skibbereen	High Street	4
Tralee	Prince's Street	6
	Castle Street	5
Waterford	Broad Street	16
	Waterford Glass	51

DUBLIN CITY AND COUNTY

Dublin	Clarendon House Clarendon Street	141
	College House, Townsend Street	451
	Dame Court House, Dame Court	10
	Fenian House, Fenian Street	100
	48/48A Harold's Cross Road	10
	Hawkins House	34
	Lyon Building, O'Connell Street	217
	Marlboro Street	480
	31 Lower O'Connell Street	19
	Phibsboro Shopping Centre	8
	St. Martin's House, Waterloo Road	36
	10/12 Trinity Street	32
	South Anne Street P.O.	10
	TOTAL	2,369

Government Departments

PROVINCIAL AREAS

Premises	Department/Office	Number of Civil Servants
Co. CARLOW:
Regent Street, Mhuine Bheag, Co. Carlow	Social Welfare	1
Irish Life House, Dublin Street, Carlow	Labour	1
Co. CAVAN:
Wesley Street, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan	Social Welfare	1
Blacklion, Co. Cavan	Customs and Excise	6
18 Casement Street, Cavan	O.P.W.; Agriculture; Lands (Forestry Branch)	4
30 Donovan Rossa Place, Cavan	Customs and Excise	1
20 Farnham Street, Cavan	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
87 Main Street, Cavan	Land Commission	9
Athbara House, Cavan	Agriculture	14
Swanlinbar, Cavan	Customs Station	4
Francis Street, Cavan	Agriculture	47
Co. CLARE:
2 Bank Place, Ennis, Co. Clare	Lands; Labour; Social Welfare	18
Moore Street, Kilrush, Co. Clare	Social Welfare	1
6 Bindon Street, Ennis, Co. Clare	Customs and Excise	1
Co. CORK:
Custom House, Cork	Customs and Excise	28
32 Grand Parade, Cork	Industry and Commerce (Prices Commission), Agriculture	7
Irish Life House, South Mall, Cork	Agriculture; Social Welfare; Labour (Factory Inspectorate); Land Commission; Education; Customs and Excise; Local Government	86
14 Old Blackrock Road, Cork	O.P.W	13
15 Parnell Place, Cork	Customs and Excise	10
10 Patrick Street, Cork	Lands (Forestry Branch)	16
Togher Road, Cork	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	6
Roches Stores, Patrick Street, Cork	Revenue Commissioners	141
Tivoli Building, Patrick Street, Cork	Revenue Commissioners	25
32 South Mall, Cork	Agriculture (District Veterinary Office)	95
9 St. Patrick's Hill, Cork	Transport and Power (Mercantile Marine Office)	5
Car Ferry Terminal, Tivoli, Cork	Agriculture (Portal Inspection Office)	5
9 Washington Street West, Cork	Social Welfare (Medical Referee)	1
Watercourse Road, Cork	Revenue Commissioners (Customs and Excise)	1
White Street, Cork	Social Welfare (Employment Exchange)	54
54 South Mall, Cork	Labour; Justice	16
Bandon, Co. Cork	Social Welfare	1
Central Hotel, Bantry, Co. Cork	Customs and Excise	10
6 Main Street, Bantry, Co. Cork	Social Welfare	4
Castletownbere, Co. Cork	O.P.W.	2
Castletownbere, Co. Cork	Customs Preventive Office	1
Cobh, Co. Cork	Revenue	6
Main Street, Dunmanway, Co. Cork	Social Welfare	1
Fermoy (7-8 Kent Street), Co. Cork	Social Welfare; Agriculture (Land Project)	8
3 North Main Street, Macroom, Co. Cork	Social Welfare; Forest and Wildlife Service	3
Midleton, Co. Cork	Revenue Commissioners	6
Newmarket, Co. Cork	Social Welfare	1
Skibbereen, Co. Cork	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
Goolds Hill, Mallow, Co. Cork	Agriculture and Lands (Forestry Branch)	10
Credit Union Building, Mallow	Social Welfare; Labour, Customs
	and Excise	4
Wolfe Tone Square, Bantry, Co. Cork (old barracks)	Labour (Placement Officers)	1
Co. DONEGAL:
Ballybofey Office and Garage, Co. Donegal	Customs and Excise	4
Main Street, Ballyshannon Co. Donegal	Revenue Commissioners (Customs and Excise)	1
Upper Main Street, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal	Social Welfare	1
Buncrana, Co. Donegal	Social Welfare	1
Carndonagh, Co. Donegal	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
Customs Hut 42, Carrigans, Co. Donegal	Revenue Commissioners	3
Castlefin, Co. Donegal	Agriculture	5
Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal	Social Welfare (Employment Exchange)	11
12 Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal	Roinn na Gaeltachta	1
Main Street, Pettigo, Co. Donegal	Revenue Commissioners	6
Meeting House Street, Raphoe, Co. Donegal	Agriculture	30
Stranorlar, Co. Donegal	Social Welfare	1
The Finn College, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal	Labour (Placement Offices)	2
Cloghore Frontier Post, Co. Donegal	Revenue Commissioners	4
Buncrana, Co. Donegal	Social Welfare	1
The Diamond, Raphoe, Co. Donegal	Agriculture	13
Bridge Street, Donegal	Forest and Wildlife Service	2
Co. GALWAY:
Piscatory School, Claddagh, Co. Galway	Department of Social Welfare (Employment Exchange)	36
11 Dominick Street, Co. Galway	Local Government	3
New Dock Street, Galway	Local Government (Driver Testers); O.P.W.	5
Colonial Buildings, 2 and 3 Eglinton Street, Galway	Agriculture	6
Hynes Building, St. Augustine Street, Galway	Agriculture	78
St. George's Square, Galway	O.P.W.	6
Patrick Street, Portumna, Co. Galway	Social Welfare	1
Mall House, Tuam, Co. Galway	Social Welfare; Agriculture	10
64 Dominick Street, Galway	Justice	3
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway	Lands (Forestry Branch)	2
Hibernian House, Eyre Square, Galway	Revenue Commissioners	51
Prospect Hill, Galway	Priceline Office (Industry and Commerce)	4
Co. KERRY:
Main Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry	Social Welfare	1
Main Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry	Social Welfare	3
New Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry	Agriculture	6
6, 7, 8 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry	Agriculture	43
23 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry	Lands (Forest and Wildlife Service)	2
7 Castle Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry	Labour	4
Co. KILDARE:
20 Leinster Street, Athy, Co. Kildare	Social Welfare	1
Droichead Nua, Co. Kildare	Social Welfare	1
Naas, Co. Kildare	Agriculture	42
Shopping Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare	Labour	2
Co. KILKENNY:
Patrick Street, Kilkenny	Forestry	1
U.D.T. premises, Patrick Street Kilkenny	Revenue Commissioners	5
Co. LAOIS:
Market Square, Portarlington, Co. Laois	Revenue Commissioners	1
Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois	Forestry and Social Welfare	5
Moore Street, Rathdowney, Co. Laois	Revenue Commissioners	1
Co. LEITRIM:
Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim	Driver Testers	1
Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim	Agriculture	5
Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim (House and Shed)	Social Welfare	7
Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim	Social Welfare	1
Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim	Social Welfare; National Manpower Service	2
Co. LIMERICK:
Foynes, Co. Limerick	Revenue	3
29 Upper Cecil Street, Limerick	Social Welfare	48
112 O'Connell Street, Limerick	Labour National Manpower Service, Industrial Inspectorate National Rehabilitation Board, Local Government	12
13-16 O'Connell Street, Limerick	Revenue Commissioners	(Being adapted for use)
Bishop Street, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick	Social Welfare	14
Sarsfield House, Limerick	Revenue Commissioners	80
Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick	Local Government	1
Lord Edward Street, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick	Social Welfare	1
St. Munchin's House, Limerick	Forestry; Land Commission; Agricuculture	71
70 O'Connell Street, Limerick (First Floor)	Prices Inspectors (Industry and Commerce)	4
Co. LONGFORD:
Killashee Road, Longford	Agriculture	10
Dublin Street, Longford	Labour (National Manpower Service)	1
Co. LOUTH:
Ardee, Co. Louth	Social Welfare	1
Drumbilla, Co. Louth	Customs and Excise Hut	2
Earl House, Dundalk, Co. Louth	Revenue Commissioners; Labour; Local Government (Driver Testers)	72
St. Patrick's Hall, Dundalk, Co. Louth	O.P.W.; Customs and Excise; Agriculture	29
Omeath, Co. Louth	Customs and Excise	2
The Demesne, Dundalk, Co. Louth	Justice (Welfare Service)	1
Co. MAYO:
Ballina, Co. Mayo	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
Castlebar, Co. Mayo	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
The Square, Claremorris, Co. Mayo	Social Welfare; Agriculture	7
Spencer Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo	Revenue Commissioners	6
Chapel Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo	Lands (Forest and Wildlife Service)	2
Co. MEATH:
31 Brews Hill, An Uaimh, Co. Meath	Land Commission	6
48 Trimgate Street, An Uaimh, Co. Meath	Agriculture	10
Trim, Co. Meath (Room 1st Floor of Town Hall)	Social Welfare	1
Co. MONAGHAN:
Clones, Co. Monaghan	Social Welfare	1
Clones, Co. Monaghan (Garage)	Revenue Commissioners	1
North Road, Monaghan	Customs and Excise	8
North Road, Monaghan	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
Ballybay Customs Station, Co. Monaghan	Revenue Commissioners	4
11 Church Square, Monaghan	Labour	2
Co. OFFALY:
Emmet Street, Birr, Co. Offaly	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
Edenderry, Co. Offaly	Social Welfare Office	1
High Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly	Customs and Excise, Social Welfare	2
Bridge Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly	Land Commission	10
Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly	Local Government (Driver Testers)	1
Colmcille Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly	Agriculture	5
William Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly	Labour (National Manpower Service)	2
Co. ROSCOMMON:
Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon (The Square)	Social Welfare	1
Dunluce House, Abbey Street, Roscommon	Agriculture	10
Roscommon (The Square)	Social Welfare Office	1
Barrack Street, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon	Labour (Placement Officer)	1
Co. SLIGO:
Main Street, Ballymote, Co. Sligo	Social Welfare	1
2 Alberta, Chapel Street, Sligo	O.P.W.; Local Government (Driver Testers)	6
Courthouse, Sligo	Local Government	1
Sligo Jail, Sligo (Ground Floor)	Defence	2
Stephen Street, Sligo	Agriculture	8
Stephen Street, Sligo	Labour (National Manpower Service)	5
Strandhill Road, Sligo	Lands (Forestry)	11
45 Wine Street, Sligo	Industry and Commerce (Prices Inspectors)	4
Co. TIPPERARY:
71 Main Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary	Social Welfare	1
Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	Agriculture	7
Friar Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	Land Commission	9
The Mall, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	Social Welfare; Revenue Commissioners	30
4 Bridge Street, Tipperary	Local Government (Driving Test Centre); Social Welfare	2
Friar Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	Lands (Forestry)	8
Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	Social Welfare; Revenue Commissioners	5
Summerhill, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary	Labour	2
4 Gladstone Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary	Labour (National Manpower Service)	2
Co. WATERFORD:
9 O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford	Agriculture; Social Welfare	9
Ulster Bank, The Quay, Waterford	Customs and Excise	(Being adapted for use)
Custom House, Waterford	Customs and Excise	46
108 The Quay, Waterford	Labour (National Manpower Service); Justice	11
1 and 2 Michael Street, Waterford	Revenue Commissioners (Taxes)	31
32 Grattan Square, Dungarvan, Waterford	Labour	2
Co. WESTMEATH:
Government Offices, Church Street, Athlone, Westmeath	Land Commission	10
St. Mary's Parochial Hall, Mullingar, Co.
Westmeath	Local Government (Driver Testers)	1
I Pearse St,. Mullingar, Co. Westmeath	Agriculture	26
19 Pearse Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath	Agriculture	27
Custume Place, Athlone, Co. Westmeath	Labour	7
Mardyke Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath	Industry and Commerce (Prices Inspector)	3
36 Connaught Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath	Justice (Welfare)	2
Co. WEXFORD
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford	Social Welfare; Lands (Forestry)	3
Gorey, Co. Wexford	Social Welfare; Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	2
New Ross, Co. Wexford	Land Commission	4
19 Mary Street, New Ross, Co. Wexford	Social Welfare	1
Rosslare, Co. Wexford	Agriculture	4
New Ross, Co. Wexford	Agriculture	1
“Wexford Club”, Wexford	Agriculture; Local Government (Driver Testers); Justice	7
99-103 North Main Street, Wexford	Revenue Commissioners (Taxes)	19
Co. WICKLOW:
16 Main Street, Arklow, Co. Wicklow	O.P.W.	3
18 Main Street, Arklow, Co. Wicklow	Customs and Excise	1
1, 2 and 3 Sidmonton Place, Bray, Co. Wicklow	Lands (Forestry Branch)	49
Assembly Hall, Wicklow	Local Government (Driving Test Centre)	1
Arklow, Co. Wicklow	Social Welfare (Employment Exchange)	5
	Total	1,930

Mr. Lemass

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for referring to an office block in Inchicore Road and that, despite this financial business, the programme is to continue. I understood him to say when Agriculture House was being constructed that not only would the entire staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries be accommodated there but that there would be a surplus of offices. I understand that members of the Department of Agriculture staff need to be housed elsewhere.

Mr. Begley

No. All the staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are housed in Kildare Street.

Mr. Lemass

Perhaps it is not in the Parliamentary Secretary's brief, but I might observe that I have seen one or two strange cars outside Agriculture House. I would hate to see it bombed. Can the Parliamentary Secretary give the location of the site at Inchicore Road?

Mr. Begley

No.