I am fully committed to a policy which ensures that my Department's local offices offer a high standard of accommodation for the staff and members of the public alike. I am satisfied that very significant progress has been made on this front in recent years.
My Department is engaged, in co-operation with the Office of Public Works, in an ongoing programme to improve the general standard of accommodation at local offices. In the five year period ending this year over £13 million will have been spent on this work. To date 17 new offices have been provided and 11 existing offices extensively refurbished. At present, there are three new offices under construction while one is being extensively refurbished. Immediate plans include an early start on building a further two new offices and one major refurbishment project. The programme will continue to be advanced as quickly as financial and technical resources will allow.