asked the Minister for Finance if he will state regarding Colmstock House, Stephen's Green, Dublin, at present rented by the Government (a) the date of commencement of the term of letting, (b) duration of term or nature of letting, (c) rent per annum, (d) whether the landlord is responsible for rates, (e) if the premises were not immediately occupied and put into use, when they were occupied and in full use, (f) if they were not at the commencement of the term in immediate occupation or full use, the reason for the delay, (g) how much was spent by his Department in (i) erecting light fittings, putting up partitions, laying floor covering and other work and (ii) equipping the premises with office furniture, fittings, fixtures, and (h) how the office equipment, furniture, fittings, et cetera, formerly used in the premises out of which the civil servants were transferred to Colmstock House have been disposed of.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Leasing of Dublin Premises.
The building in question is held on lease by the State for a term of 75 years from January, 1967. It is not the practice to disclose the amount of the rent payable in respect of a State rented property as the figure concerned is a confidential one between landlord and tenant. The rent is exclusive of rates. Occupation of the building began on 7th October, 1967, and was completed on 16th December, 1967. Immediate occupation was not possible because of the necessity to provide partitions and lighting installations, to supply furniture and fittings and to instal telephones.
The total cost of preparing the premises for occupation was approximately £80,000 of which about £20,000 was in respect of furniture, office fittings and floor coverings.
Because of its age and condition some of the furniture and office fittings which had been in use by the staffs transferred to the new building, would not be suitable for re-use and will be disposed of. The remainder has been or will be re-issued to meet the demands of Government staffs, as appropriate.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary inform us by what precedent he does not give us the rent of the building, seeing that the Minister for Finance in answer to a question gave us the rent of a building rented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara?
As I have already said in the reply, it has always been the practice to treat rents of this kind as confidential between landlord and tenant, and there is no reason at all to depart from that practice, but there are very good reasons for retaining it.
I wish to say that I do not accept that statement by the Parliamentary Secretary.
It is the practice not to disclose them.
The Minister himself gave me the figures.