Vol. 475 No. 5
179 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of expenditure on new social welfare offices or on refurbishment works to existing offices in County Wexford in 1995 and 1996; and if he will give details of each individual project; and the level of expenditure involved. [5362/97]
The Office of Public Works is at present developing a new Government Office complex at Anne Street, Wexford, Phase 1 of the project, which includes a new social welfare local office for my Department, was completed and opened for business in December 1996. The new office brings together, for the first time in many years, all Department of Social Welfare services in Wexford town.
The Office of Public Works will acquire the office complex under a rental-purchase agreement over a period of 20 years. The first payment under this agreement, amounting to about £200,000, was made on completion of phase 1. My Department spent approximately £100,000 in 1996 furnishing and fitting out the new officess.
My Department has not replaced any other offices or refurbished existing offices in Wexford during the period in question.
