asked the Minister for Finance the annual rent that is currently being paid by his Department for Teach Earlsfort, Dublin 2, to the present landlords; the rent which has been paid to date from the commencement of the lease on this property; if he has any information on the number of personnel who worked daily in this office prior to the lease commencing; the way in which these numbers compare with the staff numbers from the Revenue Commissioners who were working there up to recently; if he has had any discussions with the landlords regarding alterations or changes in the building in order to render it suitable for Civil Service staffing; if so, if he will outline the details of these discussions; and if he has any plans to alter or renovate the said premises in order to render them suitable as office accommodation in the future for Civil Service staff.
Written Answers. - Rented Building.
I am not in a position to provide the information sought in regard to the rental of Teach Earlsfort as it is not the practice to divulge details of specific commercial transactions. Since its construction, the building has been occupied by staff of the Revenue Commissioners, under the terms of a lease to the Commissioners of Public Works. In February 1988 there were approximately 550 Revenue Commissioners staff in the building. Discussions have taken place between the OPW and the landlords in regard to possible adaptations to the premises. Having had regard to a number of possible options as to the best way to proceed, the Minister for Finance has directed that the building be vacated over a period and that arrangements be made by the Commissioners of Public Works for its disposal.