Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

384 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number in respect of the sections of his Department or boards or agencies operating under the aegis of his Department, it is proposed to decentralise which are currently housed in leased office space or premises; the annual amount paid in rent in each case; when the lease runs out in each case; if there are financial penalties involved in the breaking of the lease in each case; his views on whether it is appropriate that a headquarters of a Department dealing with the marine brief should be located in an inland county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31299/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

The various office premises of my Department in Dublin are either owned or leased by the Office of Public Works which is directly responsible for the rent and lease arrangements. I can advise the Deputy that the Central Fisheries Board owns its current premises in Dublin and Bord Iascaigh Mhara rents its current offices in Dun Laoghaire.

My Department's wide-ranging brief encompasses communications, broadcasting, energy, natural resources and inland fisheries as well as the marine functions. Given the breadth and diversity of my Department's business and customer bases, any county would be an appropriate location and I am satisfied that Cavan is an eminently suitable location for the Department's new headquarters.