Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said in the Dáil, including to Deputy Connolly, who has a keen interest in this, it is not a case of either-or from our point of view. Depending on where the buildings are and the needs of a particular Government Department, it is not a case of either-or but of lending it. We acquired a very significant building in Dublin before Christmas and closed its sale for a use that was identified to us by Government Departments expanding and some relocating. It is not a case of either-or. We want to keep our options open. For instance, if we have a tribunal of inquiry sitting for a short period, it might make more sense for us to take a short-term lease on a building than to acquire a building. We are constantly monitoring the market and looking to see what is coming up for sale. We are also looking at consolidating space.

In the period that I have been a Minister of State, the Civil Service has expanded by about 15%, which is significant. Every single Accounting Officer will be responsible for the divvying out of her or his workstations to make sure that the optimum is being used. The OPW does not dish out the workspaces. That is up to the Secretary General or the director of each section of a Department. It is up to us to respond to the business cases that are laid down by Government Departments, negotiate on their behalf and manage it on behalf of the State. It is a combination of both. We have shrunk them considerably and intend to shrink them further, but it is not our intention to get rid of them.