Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform
Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
1:45 pm
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is primarily because of leases coming to an end. Within the Department there is an overview of all State property and, unfortunately, bad decisions were made, particularly around the time decentralisation was topical. In some cases long-term leases were taken. Where we can get out of leases not fit for purpose and where we can amalgamate or transfer facilities, we are doing that on a structured basis. To answer the Chairman's question, the decrease is down to taking advantage of expiring leases.