Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2016
288. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the properties her Department and agencies under its remit leased; the number they leased on upward-only rents and the number of the lessors who were involved with the National Asset Management Agency or with any of the State banks; and the details of each lease. [16595/16]
View answerThe Appropriation Account for my Department includes no direct payments in respect of rent/leases. The lease for my Department's building is held by the Office of Public Works.
As regards Tusla, the nature of its leased properties is complex as many of the leased properties are shared with the Health Services Executive. This is as a consequence of the removal of child and family services from the HSE in 2014. Arrangements between Tusla and the HSE for paying rent/rent contributions vary considerably nationally. New leases for shared occupancy with the Health Services Executive have an established rate while some older leases on shared HSE leased properties require a small contribution or no payment contribution at all. The Tusla property portfolio is currently under review. A more complete picture will only be available once this review is complete.
I have requested the Ombudsman for Children's Office to respond to you directly as it is an independent statutory body established under the Ombudsman for Children’s Act, 2002. The Act provides that the Ombudsman for Children is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and is directly accountable to the Oireachtas in relation to the exercise of his functions.
