The allocation for my Department's office premises expenses for 2012 is €2.34 million. The funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A6. The 2012 allocation for subhead A6 represents an increase of approximately 43% over actual expenditure in 2011 (€1.635 million). The reasons for this level of provision in 2012 are as follows:
a) An allocation of some €0.4 million has been provided to allow essential building works to be carried out in my Department's premises in Athlone, Dublin and Tullamore.
b) Additional funding of some €0.138 million has been allocated to provide for the cost of security services in my Department's Marlborough Street premises. The additional funding for 2012 is required in order to provide for the cost of this service for a full year. Prior to June 2011 the Office of Public Works met the cost of security services in Marlborough St.
c) The 2012 allocation also includes some €0.171 million to meet the office premises expenses of a number of regional offices. Prior to 2012 the administrative costs of the regional offices in question were provided for in a separate subhead which has now been discontinued and the funding has been allocated instead to a number of other subheads including subhead A6.
Officals in my Department engage with the Office of Public Works an ongoing basis and in relation to energy efficiency matters.