asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that AnCO is paying £25,000 per month in rent for office premises it is no longer using, and having signed a long term lease may have to pay £300,000 per year for premises for the next 29 years; the action, if any, he proposes to take on this matter; if he will review the procedures used by AnCO and other State bodies supervised by his Department for renting office premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - AnCO Office Premises.
20.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the premises in Mespil Road recently vacated by AnCO staff.
AnCO's policy has always been to seek the best terms available at the time of obtaining premises, taking into consideration the suitability and cost-effectiveness of the location, including its proximity to AnCO headquarters. The only lease available in 1982 for the Mespil Road premises was for 35 years.
AnCO have now accepted an offer, subject to contract, on the property and expect to complete the negotiations before the end of the year. This will mean significant savings in overheads next year.
Reducing expenditure on rent and rates is in line with my policy to cut expenditure on overheads rather than direct services to the labour force.