Departmental Properties

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 March 2012

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Ceisteanna (185)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

188 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of buildings his Department has rented in each county in the country that are, at present, being fully utilised; the number of buildings his Department rented which are empty, idle and not being used; the cost incurred by his Department in renting these buildings, with separate figures for the ones that are used and the ones that are unused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14520/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

The sourcing of property on behalf of Government Departments is a matter for the Office of Public Works. The Department's Headquarters is in Hawkins House, Dublin 2 which is not subject to any lease. There are two leases currently held by my Department as follows:—

Block D, Irish Life Mall, Dublin 1 which formerly accommodated the Office of the Disability Appeals Officer. This office is now located within my Department's Hawkins House Headquarters.

1 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin 1 which formerly accommodated the Irish Council for Bioethics. This lease was signed by the Council itself when it was still a separate corporate entity. As part of the winding up of this entity, my Department absorbed the staff on a secondment basis and took on the lease on the Council's premises.

My Department is actively seeking an alternative use for these premises for the remainder of their leases. The following are the yearly cost of rents:

Premises	Cost
Irish Life Building	€98,5000
Ormond Quay	€48,000