Vol. 576 No. 6
16 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties currently leased by the Office of Public Works; the specific Departments and sections of Departments located in these properties; the cost per annum of each of these leases individually; the duration left to run in each lease; if penalties will apply for early surrender of any of these leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30049/03]
The Office of Public Works currently has some 400 leased properties. These are spread throughout the country with the main concentration in the Dublin area. The properties comprise 400,000 square metres of space and are occupied by a range of Departments, offices and agencies.
The annual cost for these leased properties is approximately €97 million. In general, the unexpired period left on each lease can vary from less than one year up to 20 years or more. In many instances, the leases provide for break periods which allow for their early termination, subject to appropriate notice being supplied by the party wishing to exit from the lease.
Where early surrender of a lease is required outside of a break period, the matter has to be negotiated by the parties concerned. The extent to which penalties might apply depends on a number of factors. These include: the specific terms of the lease; the willingness of the landlord to accept the surrender of the lease; the length of the unexpired period on the lease; the alternative letting options open to the landlord; whether the landlord might have plans to redevelop the premises; whether the Office of Public Works can arrange for the sub-letting of the premises to other tenants or for disposal by assignment. The Office of Public Works's approach is to secure the best outcome from the State's viewpoint, in any negotiations on surrender of leases. The objective in all such cases is to minimise the impact of any penalties that might arise.
As regards the specific property and lease details sought by the Deputy, the Commissioners have informed me that these are not all readily available. The Office of Public Works, however, is actively compiling the necessary details in the format sought and a full report will be issued to the Deputy as soon as possible.
