Vol. 410 No. 3
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance whether, in the light of his decentralisation policy, premises have been identified for office space; if he will outline the additional expense the setting up of these offices will cost the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
12 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance whether, with regard to his decentralisation policy, he will outline if he has acquired tenants for the vacant office space in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance whether, in the light of his decentralisation policy, he will outline the consultations which have taken place regarding the soon to be vacant office space in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 9, 12 and 16 together.
In consultation with other Departments and Offices, the extent of accommodation required by the State in Dublin is assessed, on an ongoing basis, by the Office of Public Works in the light of developments such as the embargo on recruitment, early retirement and decentralisation. These assessments have, to date, resulted in the identification and disposal of a substantial amount of accommodation. This process is continuing.
It is not the State's policy to negotiate tenancies for vacated accommodation. Disposals are usually effected by availing of lease breaks and expiries or by placing property, owned or leased, on the open market.
In general, decentralised offices are constructed on sites owned by the State or provided by the relevant local authority. The identification of premises does not normally arise.
The provision of the offices in the provincial centres does not give rise to an overall additional cost to the Exchequer. The cost of providing the decentralised accommodation, which compares more than favourably with the cost of office accommodation in Dublin, is more than adequately recouped, given the savings arising from consequent disposals of Dublin office space.
In view of the professional incompetence of the Office of Public Works in disposing of the properties across the street, would the Minister not agree that the record of the Office of Public Works in disposing of property of high value is not good? I make another reference to Beggar's Bush local authority housing area, which is in a similar position. Is the Minister of State saying publicly, in the light of the Minister's announced review of expenditure, that the election statements announcing the decentralisation of civil servants will not go ahead? Is he saying that there is no additional cost to the Exchequer attached to decentralising public servants and that the decentralisation plan announced prior to the local elections will not go ahead?
I am disappointed to hear the comments of Deputy Quinn about the Office of Public Works, which has been doing a magnificent job in recent years.
The sales section.
The property referred to across the road comes to the market at a time when it is less buoyant than previously.
It has taken two and a half years.
The comments on the Office of Public Works are totally unjustified. The decentralisation programme is going ahead. The cost of office accommodation in Dublin is more than twice the cost of similar accommodation in provincial areas. There is no doubt that there is a vast saving to the Exchequer in that regard. The decentralisation programme will go ahead as quickly as possible.
Will the Minister agree that we were told in this House that the £17 million expended on the refurbishment of the "Winter Palace" next door would be recouped substantially from the proceeds of the sale of the properties in Upper Merrion Street? How much has the property section of the Office of Public Works received in cash from the disposal of those properties?
These are separate questions.
They are related.
That matter was approved by Deputy Quinn himself.
We were told the money would come from the proceeds of the sale but the Office of Public Works have not managed to sell them yet.
Deputy Michael Noonan. Deputy Quinn should obey the Chair. I have called another Deputy.
(Limerick East): Is the Minister of State aware that one of his colleagues, Deputy Willie O'Dea, claimed about ten days ago that civil servants were refusing to move to Limerick? Would he confirm or deny this?
That is a separate matter.
(Limerick East): It arises from the questions.
It is a distinct and separate matter.
(Limerick East): The Minister has it in his brief.
That is a report in a newspaper. Full stop.
(Limerick East): Tell him to stop bad-mouthing his native city, especially when it is lies.
Regarding the identifying of vacant office space, the Minister will agree that many of the cost overruns have been incurred because of bad coordination. What weight does he attach to negotiations with the unions on this matter? Specifically, what weight does he attach to being charged with giving out civil servants like smarties? Will the decentralisation proceed only on the basis of agreement with the unions?
Negotiations with the unions will be in the normal vein. Again I must express disappointment at the remarks made by Deputy Rabbitte. Sensational remarks of that kind will not do him or the Office of Public Works any good. I am surprised at him.
The first that civil servants learned of it was when they read about it.
It has been our announced programme for some considerable time.
It was announced 12 months ago.
So it was old news recycled.
Grow up.
Since Limerick has been earmarked for a Revenue Commission office as part of the decentralisation programme, perhaps the Minister could allay the concerns and fears raised by newspaper articles by indicating when he expects the Revenue Commissioners to move to Limerick?
That is a separate question.
The Minister wants to answer.
That may be so, but I have ruled that it is a separate question. I am in charge of business here.
It is very easily answered. It is very simple.
They will be back in the same place in due course. They are expecting them to be back in 1992.
In 1992?
Are the Government familiar with the map of Ireland? Are they aware there is a county in the northern end, which juts in a "V" into the North of Ireland, called Monaghan? I want to tell the Minister the people of Monaghan are very disgruntled and dissatisfied because they are forever getting the back of the Government's hand, and have been doing so for a long time.
I think it is worthy of a separate question, Deputy.
With regard to decentralisation, our county has not been looked at. With regard to the regional Ordnance Survey offices, the Minister for Finance decided, in his wisdom, that Carrickmacross in particular, my own little town, was not a suitable place——
Let us have appropriate questions please on these matters. Question No. 10.
I am not sure to which county the Deputy is referring.
Longford.
I have called Question No. 10 in the name of Deputy Tomás Mac Giolla.
A certain Minister lives in Longford. What is wrong with that?
