Vol. 494 No. 5
79 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the amount of property which is rented by Government Departments from the private sector; the proportion of property used by the Government which is owned by the Government; his views on whether annual property rental costs constitute value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18959/98]
The property portfolio of the Office of Public Works, which comprises 11m square includes approximately 2.5 million square feet of office accommodation and buildings — for example, Garda stations — which are leased from the private sector. Approximately 77 per cent of the offices' overall portfolio is State owned. I am satisfied that the rents paid represent value for money.
80 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will give a breakdown of the number of carparking spaces owned and the number of carparking spaces rented from the private sector by each of the Government Departments for the use of their officials and staff; the aggregate cost per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18960/98]
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. A detailed schedule setting out the Departments' carparking spaces allocated from owned or rented space and the associated costs is being prepared by this office and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
