Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
188. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide permanent office accommodation for staff who located in Portlaoise in County Laois as part of decentralisation, in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and in the Department of Social Protection. [17880/15]
View answerA space audit of the State owned Government Offices on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise is currently being undertaken. When complete, it will be evaluated to establish the potential to increase the occupancy of the building through the re-configuration of the space with a more modern open plan layout and furniture.
The provision of an extension to this State owned property will also be reviewed following completion of the space audit.
The Department of Social Protection opened an additional control office in Portlaoise in 2014 as part of their normal regional structure. This was not part of the Decentralisation Programme.
