Departmental Property.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2010

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Questions (213, 214, 215, 216)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

214 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of properties that his Department is currently leasing from property landlords along with the location of same; the number of these lease agreements that contain upward only rent review clauses; the cost arising from these rents; the efforts that are being made by his Department to ensure that these rents are operating at a sustainable level in the current business and economic environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13561/10]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley)

Rental costs on properties occupied by my Department are, in general, met by the Office of Public Works. However, the following are rented directly by the Department:

Location	Property type	Cost
Galway	Storage Unit	€2,642 per annum
Cork	Storage Unit	€21,870 per annum
Met Éireann, Dublin Airport	Offices	€73,720 per annum, including service charges
Met Éireann, Shannon Airport	Offices	€150,637.03 per annum, including service charges

At the end of 2009, my Department also entered into an arrangement whereby its National Monuments Service will occupy a proportion of an archival and storage facility as a sub-lessee of the National Museum of Ireland.

Arrangements relating to the above do not contain upward-only rent review clauses. Rents are kept under regular review.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

215 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of properties that his Department is currently leasing to commercial business along with the location of same; the number of these lease agreements that contain upward only rent review clauses; the income derived from these rents; the efforts that are being made by his Department to ensure that these rents are operating at a sustainable level in the current business and economic environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13426/10]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

My Department has no properties that are leased to commercial interests.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

216 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of properties that his Department is currently leasing from property landlords along with the location of same; the number of these lease agreements that contain upward only rent review clauses; the cost arising from these rents; the efforts that are being made by his Department to ensure that these rents are operating at a sustainable level in the current business and economic environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13556/10]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

My Department occupies or partly occupies a number of leased buildings. They are as follows:

Department HQ, 29/31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2;

Core Store, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Sandyford, County Dublin;

Elm House, Earlsvale Road, Cavan (partly occupies).

All details in relation to the leases are dealt with by the Office of Public Works.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

217 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of properties that his Department is currently leasing to commercial business along with the location of same; the number of these lease agreements that contain upward only rent review clauses; the income derived from these rents; the efforts that are being made by his Department to ensure that these rents are operating at a sustainable level in the current business and economic environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13424/10]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

Under the 1968 Fishery Harbour Centres Act (as amended) my Department is responsible for the development and management of six Fishery Harbour Centres which are located at Killybegs, Ros a Mhíl, An Daingan, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. Available properties within the Fishery Harbour Centres are offered for lease, in accordance with the Act and public procurement guidelines. On entering into an agreement with a customer a legally binding lease document is signed by the leaseholder and on my behalf. This document sets out the terms and conditions that apply to the specific lease, including the rent review mechanisms. The most recent audited accounts available for the Fishery Harbour Centre Fund are for 2006. The value for rental income for that year was €1,249,109.