Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2010
291 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence regarding the decentralisation of his Department and the Defence Forces to Newbridge, the total cost to his Department of same including the provision of new equipment such as IT, telephones, staff training and so on and other moving expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42071/10]
View answerThe Department of Defence Dublin based civil service staff and a number of Defence Forces personnel have relocated to Newbridge, Co Kildare under the decentralisation programme. While a substantial part of the physical move took place over the weekend of 5 November 2010, the project has not yet been concluded in full. The Office of Public Works is responsible for the building. I am informed by the OPW that the anticipated overall cost will be €34m. This includes site acquisition, building construction and fit-out costs. These costs are borne on the Vote of the Office of Public Works. In addition, the Department and the Defence Forces have spent approximately €0.430m, to end of 2009, on the decentralisation project, mainly on information and communications and certain structural adjustments. Given that the project is currently being finalised, information on full costs incurred will not be available until the project is completed.
