Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2018
188. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 9 October 2018, the costs incurred by the programme over the 2003 to 2011 period for the number of staff that relocated; and the costs estimated to be incurred if the total number of 10,000 staff had relocated. [42076/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Government announced on 17 November, 2011 that the Decentralisation Programme which was introduced in 2003 should not be continued in the light of the budgetary and staffing outlook.
Initial costings of the Decentralisation Programme estimated at a gross cost of approximately €900m in respect of procuring sites and office accommodation for the Programme.
A 2009 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) includes an audit of property management under the decentralisation programme.
The report identified capital expenditure of €289.4 million on property, including sites, and recurring costs (leases) of €7 million as at April 2010.
Dublin property disposals were €356m and leases with an annual value of €10m over the same period were surrendered.
Non-property costs in the order of €30m were incurred, including the OPW’s spend on dedicated staffing for the programme.
